Player News

• Rob Gronkowski: Contacts Bucs, but staying retired

  12/23/2022 • By RotoWire

  Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles disclosed Friday that Gronkowski contacted the team last month about a possible return to the team, but the tight end ultimately elected to remain retired for the time being, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "It was more of a conversation than anything else," Bowles said. "Usually, when you have to think about playing, you probably don't want to play. When it's just a discussion, I didn't think much of it at the time." In June, Gronkowski announced that he had retired from professional football for a second time, but six months later, the five-time Pro Bowler doesn't sound like he's completely closed the door on playing again. According to the report, Gronkowski told Bowles that he's been working out in preparation for a possible return, and though the two sides didn't come to terms on a contract, it wouldn't be surprising if the 33-year-old and the Buccaneers revisited those discussions heading into the 2023 season. Any motivation Gronkowski may have in resuming his career may hinge on the plans of longtime battery mate Tom Brady, the only full-time starting quarterback that the tight end has ever played with.

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• Rob Gronkowski: Not expected to play in 2022

  09/11/2022 • By RotoWire

  The Buccaneers aren't counting on Gronkowski resuming his playing career in 2022 after the tight end previously announced his second retirement in June, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Shortly after signing Tom Brady following the 2019 season, the Buccaneers were able to talk Gronkowski into ending his first retirement, but the organization doesn't believe that its front office or Brady will be able to convince the 33-year-old tight end to explore a late-season return to the team. At this point, the Buccaneers are proceeding as though Gronkowski has moved on from football, so any potential return in 2022 might need to be initiated by the five-time Pro Bowler. With Gronkowski out of the mix and O.J. Howard now in Houston, the Buccaneers will carry veterans Cameron Brate and Kyle Rudolph and rookies Cade Otton and Ko Kieft as their options at tight end heading into Sunday's season opener versus the Cowboys.

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• Rob Gronkowski: No plans to play this year

  07/14/2022 • By RotoWire

  Gronkowski reiterated Tuesday that he has no plans to resume his playing career, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. The star tight end -- who played the last two seasons with Tampa Bay -- announced his retirement as an NFL player last month, and at this time the 33-year-old isn't inclined to reconsider that decision, noting Tuesday, "I'm done with football." When asked if he might change his stance if long-time teammate and QB Tom Brady called and asked him to return to the Buccaneers in the coming months, Gronkowski replied, "I would answer, obviously, the greatest quarterback of all time. Ask him how he's doing. Tell him I'm doing good. But I wouldn't go back to football -- no." With Gronkowski no longer in the team's pass-catching mix, as training camp approaches the Bucs' tight end corps is led by veteran Cameron Brate, with a pair of rookie draft picks (fourth-rounder Cade Otton and sixth-rounder Ko Kieft) as well as returnee Codey McElroy also on hand.

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• Rob Gronkowski: Retires from NFL

  06/21/2022 • By RotoWire

  Gronkowski announced his retirement Tuesday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports. After missing the 2019 season, Gronkowski reunited with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay and totaled 100 receptions for 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns during his final two campaigns. He contemplated returning for another year, but he's opted to hang up the cleats. The superstar tight end won four Super Bowls during his 11-year career and will likely be a future first ballot Hall of Famer.

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• Rob Gronkowski: Bucs reportedly remain optimistic

  06/05/2022 • By RotoWire

  Though Gronkowski remains a free agent, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times suggests that the Buccaneers are optimistic the tight end will re-sign with the team sometime before training camp. In any case, while Gronkowski's NFL future is on hold, he won't be a part of Tampa Bay's full squad workouts June 7-9. For now, the team's tight end corps remains headed by Cameron Brate, and while the Bucs doubled down in April's draft by taking Cade Otton (106th overall) and Ko Kieft (218th overall), if Gronkowski does return to the mix, he'd reclaim his role as the team's top pass catcher at the position and remain on the fantasy radar, given his well established rapport with QB Tom Brady. In 12 games last season, the 33-year-old caught 55 of his 89 targets for 802 yards and six TDs.

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