Last month, tight end Rob Gronkowski shocked the NFL as he came out of retirement. The 31-year-old joined Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a compensatory fourth-round draft pick. Fans speculated that this was primarily due to Tom Brady pulling strings to get his favorite receiving target back on his side. However, ‘Gronk’ reveals that it wasn’t exactly all Brady. 

Rob Gronkowski talks about his move to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

In a chat with Ellen DeGeneres, the tight end said, “yes of course everyone keeps asking me did Tom get you to Tampa. Of course it didn’t hurt that Tom went to Tampa and the opportunity to go to Tampa was there to. But Tom was like the appetizer.”

Gronkowski went to elaborate on the other reasons to move down south to the NFC side. 

“I love the weather, but the main course, the main reason why I came down to Tampa to play is my mother lives 2 hours away. She can get to all my games. All 8 of our home games. Whenever I’m off she lives just 2 hours down the street and I get to see her and she’s super excited.” 

The tight end went on to comment on his short-lived retirement too.

“When I retired. I definitely felt it was the right decision as I needed a break from the game. I played football for 15-16 years straight. On top of it other sports in my high school career and always competing on and off the field. So I just feel my body needed a little rest and I wasn’t sure if I was gonna get back to football or not at the time. But my body healed up.”

“My body needed a break. It got healed up. I feel rejuvenated. My energy is back. I’m super excited to get back on the field and I feel like I’m ready to go.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will be enthused upon hearing this. They will be keeping their fingers crossed that the Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski duo can hit the ground running and end their 13-year long playoff drought. 

Do you see Rob Gronkowski having a successful comeback?

THROWBACK: Rob Gronkowski Sets the League Alight in His Sophomore Season