Rob Gronkowski Biography
Rob Gronkowski is an American former football tight end who spent 11 seasons playing in the National Football League (NFL). He joined Fox Sports as a FOX NFL studio analyst in 2019.
Rob Gronkowski Career
Gronkowski’s athletic journey began with hockey until the age of 14, after which he transitioned to playing basketball. During his initial three years at Williamsville North High School (WNHS), he showcased his skills as a tight end and defensive end in football and served as the freshman kickoff specialist. In addition to that, he also played center in basketball and occupied the role of first baseman in baseball for the WNHS Spartans. In his junior year of football, he made significant contributions, recording 36 receptions for 648 yards and seven touchdowns on offense along with 73 tackles and six sacks on defense. His outstanding performance earned him recognition as an All-Western New York first-team and All-State second-team player. Academically, Gronkowski was part of the National Honor Society, excelling in math and identifying English as his most challenging subject. In 2006, he relocated to suburban Pittsburgh, attending Woodland Hills High School for his senior year.
Initially facing eligibility issues due to the transfer, he was eventually permitted to play and recorded eight receptions for 152 yards and four touchdowns at Woodland Hills. He received numerous accolades, including SuperPrep All-American, PrepStar All-American, Associated Press Class 4-A all-state, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first-team all-conference, The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) “Platinum 33,” and a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25” player. Colleges like Kentucky, Arizona, Clemson, Louisville, Maryland, Ohio State, and Syracuse showed interest in recruiting him. Later, he graduated from Woodland Hills in 2007 with a 3.75 GPA and a SAT score of 1560 out of 2400. After completing high school, he enrolled at the University of Arizona, pursuing a major in Pre-Business. From 2007 to 2009, he played football for the Arizona Wildcats under head coach Mike Stoops. In his freshman year in 2007, he made a significant impact, recording 28 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns.
His remarkable average of 18.8 yards per reception was the best on the team, and his receiving yards set a school record for a tight end. He earned several accolades, including The Sporting News freshman All-American, Rivals.com freshman All-American, The Sporting News freshman Pac-10, and All-Pac-10 honorable mention player. Despite missing the first three games of the 2008 season, he had an outstanding performance, recording 47 receptions for 672 yards and leading the team with ten touchdowns. He notably scored five touchdowns in his initial two games against UCLA and Washington. Moreover, he received the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week award twice, including after a remarkable game against Oregon where he caught 12 passes for 143 yards. During this season, he set school records for a tight end in single-game, single-season, and career receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
His achievements led to being named an Associated Press third-team All-American and All-Pac-10 first-team tight end. In anticipation of the 2009 season, he was included in the watchlist for the Lombardi Award. Unfortunately, he missed his junior season in 2009 due to back surgery, impacting his draft stock. He then entered the NFL when he was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, securing the 42nd overall pick. This selection followed a draft day trade with the Oakland Raiders. Notably, in pre-draft evaluations disclosed in May 2016, Raiders scouts had rated him as the “best all-around player in the draft.” His drafting marked a significant achievement, becoming the highest-drafted tight end out of Arizona, surpassing the previous record set by Brandon Manumaleuna in 2001. On July 25, 2010, he signed a four-year contract, valued at $4.4 million, including a $1.76 million signing bonus.
Retirement
On March 24, 2019, Gronkowski, at the age of 29, declared his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons. He made the announcement via Instagram. Five months later, he provided additional insight into his decision, revealing that the physical pain and injuries endured throughout his career had negatively impacted his mental health. However, on March 22, 2021, he made a comeback by re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year contract valued at $10 million. Despite this return, Gronkowski declared his retirement for the second time on June 21, 2022. In July 2015, Gronkowski co-authored a memoir titled “It’s Good to be Gronk” with Jason Rosenhaus. The book, published by Simon & Schuster’s and Derek Jeter’s Jeter Publishing, achieved New York Times Bestseller status.
Since 2015, he and his four brothers have been involved in operating Gronk Fitness, a fitness business specializing in Gronk-branded gym equipment. The company has established partnerships with other fitness brands, including Life Fitness and Xtreme Monkey. He has openly expressed his belief that engaging in social activities, particularly partying, positively impacted his performance on the field. In 2019, he secured a spot on ESPN’s “World Fame 100” list of the most famous athletes globally, with an estimated endorsement income of $8 million in the previous year alone. Additionally, in March 2021, his inaugural NFT (non-fungible token) card collection fetched $1.2 million. In October 2020, ZooTampa at Lowry Park named a newly born greater one-horned rhino “Gronk” in celebration of Gronkowski joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Media
Gronkowski has been a prominent figure in various advertising campaigns, showcasing his versatility as an endorser. He has appeared in print, television, and online advertisements for a wide array of brands, including USAA, Nike, Monster Energy, Cheerios, T-Mobile, Tide, Lyft, JetBlue, Zynga, Visa, Oberto, SixStar Pro, Dunkin’ Donuts, SMS Audio, Campbell’s, Bodyarmor SuperDrink, DraftKings, Kids Footlocker, and video games like Mobile Strike and Halo, among others. In 2012, he partnered with PLB Sports to create “Gronk Flakes,” a frosted cornflakes breakfast cereal named after and endorsed by him. The cereal achieved success with an initial run of 64,800 boxes. Following this, PLB Sports released “Gronk’s Hot Sauce” in 2015, and in collaboration with Monster Energy, a signature “Gronk” beverage distributed by Coca-Cola was launched in the following year. Additionally, he has also been featured in several Tide advertisements, including those aired during Super Bowl LI.
He was associated with Tide Pods and collaborated with the brand for a public service announcement discouraging the consumption of laundry detergent pods. This was particularly after a viral internet challenge in 2017–18. Notably, in August 2019, he credited the use of cannabidiol (CBD) oil for alleviating his pain, advocating for its acceptance in sports for pain management. He has graced the covers of GQ, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN The Body Issue, Sports Illustrated, and Muscle & Fitness, among others. Additionally, he was featured on the cover of the video sports game Madden NFL 17 published by EA Sports in 2016. Beyond sports and endorsements, he has ventured into various entertainment projects. He appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the 2015 film “Entourage,” a 2017 episode of “Family Guy” entitled “Gronkowsbees,” and “The Simpsons” episode “The Town.” He also had roles in films like “American Violence” (2017) and “You Can’t Have It” (2017).
Gronkowski co-hosted Nickelodeon’s “Crashletes” from 2016–17 and competed in TBS’s “Drop the Mic” in 2017. In 2017, he executive produced and hosted Verizon’s Go90 original show “MVP.” He joined Fox Sports as an analyst during his year-long retirement in 2019 and made his on-air debut during Fox NFL Thursday. He also co-hosted Fox’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey in 2019. With a lifelong passion for wrestling, Gronkowski made cameo appearances at WWE events, including WrestleMania 33 in 2017. He hosted WrestleMania 36 in 2020 and won the WWE 24/7 Championship during the event. Furthermore, he also competed in the third season of “The Masked Singer” as “White Tiger.” In April 2020, he starred in the music video for “I’ll Wait” by Kygo alongside his partner Camille Kostek. He served as a team captain in the sports-based comedy panel game “Game On!” which premiered on CBS in 2020. He co-hosted the 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards with Miranda Cosgrove on Nickelodeon.
Philanthropy
Gronkowski is actively involved in charity and has established the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, which is dedicated to helping kids stay actively involved in school and sports. The foundation aims to provide tools and support to help children follow their dreams and lead successful lives. It grants funds to sports programs with a focus on health, community, and fitness. He expressed his motivation for creating the foundation, stating that growing up, he had everything he needed for success as an athlete, and he wanted to provide similar opportunities for other kids. In addition to his own foundation, he has been a consistent supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Patriots Foundation. He participates annually in events like the One Mission Buzz Off for kids with cancer, where he shaves his head. Known for his generosity with both time and resources, he has made numerous appearances at New England children’s hospitals and schools to support local charities.
In 2016, he received the Ron Burton Community Service Award from the New England Patriots for his charitable contributions and leadership in the local community. Recognizing his dedication to serving others through volunteerism, he received the Merit Award from the United Service Organizations on March 26, 2019. He was also honored with the Wish Hero Award by the Make-A-Wish Foundation on April 6, 2019, for his work in granting 14 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses during his professional football career. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his partner Camille Kostek donated over 20,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to hospitals and fire departments. In 2021, he contributed $1.2 million to renovate the Charlesbank Playground at Boston’s Charles River Esplanade, aiming to encourage outdoor activities, fitness, and fun for children.
In February 2023, he partnered with an animal health company to raise awareness about valley fever in animals. In September 2023, he met with members of the United States House of Representatives to discuss the development of a vaccine for valley fever.
Rob Gronkowski Salary
Gronkowski earns an annual salary of about $5,000,000-$7,000,000.
Rob Gronkowski Net Worth
Gronkowski has an estimated net worth of about $40 Million – $45 Million which he has earned through his career as a football player.
Rob Gronkowski Age
Gronkowski was born on May 14, 1989, in Amherst, New York, United States. He is 32 years old as of 2024, and he celebrates his birthday on the 14th of May every year.
Rob Gronkowski Height and Weight
Gronkowski stands at a height of 6 feet 6 inches tall, and he weighs 265 lbs (120kgs).
Rob Gronkowski Family
Gronkowski is the son of Diane Walters and Gordon Gronkowski who is a former college football guard for Syracuse University. His parents divorced in 2008. He has four siblings namely, Gordie, Dan, Chris and Glenn who are also pro athletes. Additionally, he is the great-grandson of Ignatius Gronkowski, who represented the United States in cycling at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, and achieved the distinction of holding five world records in the sport.
Rob Gronkowski Wife and Children
Since 2015, Gronkowski has been in a relationship with model Camille Kostek. The couple first met at a Patriots charity event on Thanksgiving 2013. The couple adopted a French bulldog named Ralphie in February 2021. He currently resides in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Tampa, Florida with his family.
FOX Sports
While working for FOX Sports Gronkowski co-works alongside:
Social Media Platform
Gronkowski is very active on his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages. He has 3.1M followers on Twitter 4.9M followers on Instagram and 1.9M followers on Facebook.