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Tight end Rob Gronkowski is returning to the NFL, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Gronkowski retired from the league in 2018 and sat out the 2019 season.
Sources: Retired #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has told New England that he’s interested in playing football again — and would want to do it with the #Bucs and QB Tom Brady. A trade would have to be worked out for this to happen.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
As Rapoport noted, Gronkowski only wanted to play with quarterback Tom Brady, who is now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shortly after the news, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted a story saying Gronkowski didn’t want to play for any quarterback other than Brady.
Two years ago before the draft, the Patriots agreed to trade Rob Gronkowski to the Lions, but Gronk informed them he’d opt for retirement over playing with a QB other than Tom Brady. Now after a year of retirement, Gronk hoping for a pre-draft trade to reunite with his former QB.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
Minutes later, Schefter reported the trade terms.
Trade, pending physical: Patriots are trading TE Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
Gronkowski is a Buccaneer.
The Kansas City Chiefs visit the Bucs for a game during the 2020 NFL season — though the league schedule has yet to be announced.
congrats to TE3 on his return to the show pic.twitter.com/A0Hler1vz1
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) April 21, 2020