If we start talking about the Super Bowl LIII, it just happened. That’s it. Because it had to… Unless, of course, you count punters trading boots for four quarters. A 13-3 slugfest where the most exciting play was… an FG? Yeah, not exactly a party. Well, at least, not until Rob Gronkowski took it upon himself to inject life into the aftermath. Because when the Patriots’ parade rolled through Boston, Gronk was unfiltered.

And for one unsuspecting witness—Mama McCourty—it was an experience she’ll never unsee.

Jason McCourty, looking back on the madness during The Rich Eisen Show, dropped a line that said it all: “She… she… she had a front-row seat to a lot of parade moments that I think she wishes she could get back.” Now, I don’t know exactly what she saw. But when it involves Gronk at a Lombardi parade? Yeah, it probably involved excessive shirtlessness, airborne beverages, and a level of chaos that makes Bourbon Street look tame.

Let’s be real: this wasn’t Gronk’s first rodeo. By 2019, he had this whole thing down to T.

Step one: Catch whatever alcohol gets thrown your way. Step two: Rip the shirt off for no apparent reason. And Step three: Make at least one questionable decision—that time, it was rocking a Boston Police vest mid-parade. The man did celebrate like he was still on the gridiron: full speed, no brakes, zero regrets.

Fans? They ate it up. The man was built for this. But Mama McCourty? Maybe not so much. Imagine showing up expecting a wholesome championship moment and instead getting a front-row seat to the Gronk Experience™. That’s a lot for anyone, let alone a mother just trying to enjoy the day.

The best part? This wasn’t even peak GRONK. We’ve seen him spike beer cans, commandeer parade boats, and live every moment like he’s got a permanent VIP pass to the greatest party on Earth. And honestly? That’s why the NFL has been a little less fun without him on the field.

So yeah, Super Bowl LIII might’ve been a defensive snoozefest, but Gronk’s victory lap? That was a show. And if you were lucky (or unlucky) enough to be up close for it—like Mama McCourty—you probably walked away with a story you’d never forget.

Maybe Rob Gronkowski and Co.’s craziness was a response to Lane Johnson

Let’s rewind to 2018. The Eagles had just taken down the Patriots in Super Bowl LII and Lane Johnson didn’t hold back. He called the Patriot Way a “fear-based organization” and said players looked like “f*cking robots” in interviews. Oh, and just to twist the knife, he added, “I’d much rather have fun and win a Super Bowl than be miserable and win five.”

Well, come next year, Pats won SB LIII, and let’s just say they made sure their parade looked anything but miserable.

Duron Harmon and Kyle Van Noy didn’t let Johnson’s words slide. When New England lifted the Lombardi again, Harmon posted a video straight from the victory parade, saying, “Y’all let Lane Johnson know I’m having fun.” And fun might be an understatement. Because when Rob Gronkowski is involved, things tend to go from zero to CRAZY in no time.

As Jason McCourty recalled on the Rich Eisen Show: “I remember, and it kind of ties together with the Eagles—Lane Johnson said something about it not being fun in New England. I remember taking the phone and recording my brother and Duron Harmon, who were talking about how much fun it was.”

Jason’s mom, though? She wasn’t exactly built for it. “She looked at us and was like, ‘What the hell am I doing on this bus? I want no part of this type of celebration’,” McCourty recalled. Wrong time, right place, I guess…

That’s the thing about these parades—what starts as a victory lap quickly turns into a full-on circus. And in New England’s case, it was part party, part subtle clapback at Johnson’s no fun narrative. The Patriots might’ve won six rings, but don’t let anyone tell you they weren’t enjoying the ride.