Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski opened up about almost retiring, following the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LII.
Gronkowski admitted that he ignored former coach Bill Belichick’s phone calls, which ultimately ended in him being traded to the Detroit Lions. However, he threatened to retire if the trade went through, and the Lions withdrew their trade offer.
Gronkowski ended up returning to New England, and the team went back to the Super Bowl the next season and defeated the Los Angeles Rams.
“I always wanted to be a New England Patriot, and I did not want to get traded that year, especially with Julian still there and Tom still there at the quarterback position,” Gronkowski said, when appearing on “Zolak & Bertrand.” Everyone was like, ‘Oh, you didn’t want to go to Detroit.’ No, I just didn’t want to leave New England.”
Gronkowski on why he didn’t leave the #Patriots after Super Bowl LII:
“I always wanted to be a New England Patriot, and I did not want to get traded that year especially. Julian’s still there, Tom’s still there at the QB position….I didn’t want to leave.”
(
: @ZoandBertrand) pic.twitter.com/RFECJdclk1
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) January 29, 2025
One has to wonder what the trajectory of the Patriots’ organization and Gronkowski’s career would have looked like if he ended up joining the Lions.
Needless to say, Patriots fans are happy he stayed in New England.