FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
Retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, who played for the Patriots over nine seasons, is being honored with induction to the team’s Hall of Fame.
This was his first year of eligibility for the hall.
Gronkowski’s ceremony will be held Saturday afternoon at Patriots Place Plaza.
Gronkowski was drafted by New England 42nd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft and went on to three Super Bowl Championships with the Patriots. He also won a fourth championship after coming out of his first retirement and reuniting with former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster.
Gronk, as he was affectionately known, ranks first in Patriots history with 80 total touchdowns. His 7,861 receiving yards are second in team history and his 1,389 postseason receiving yards are fourth in NFL history.
Across his 11 seasons, Gronk accumulated 9,286 yards and 621 receptions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times.
He retired from football for a second time in 2022. Last year, he signed a one-day contract with New England to formally close his NFL career as a member of the Patriots.
Video: Gronk retires as a Patriot
Gronk’s election to the hall marks the fourth consecutive season that a three-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots has entered the Patriots Hall of Fame after WR Julian Edelman in 2025, Tom Brady in 2024 and Mike Vrabel in 2023.
“You learn so much with the game of football, but especially in the New England era that I was in. I mean, it was all about team,” he said. “It was all about doing your best. It was all about, you know, being reliable and having the trust within your teammates and gaining their trust as well. And how you do that is by going out to practice and being great every single day and being consistent, and showing that you’re there for a reason.”
In a statement, Patriots owner Robert Kraft predicted Gronk will eventually also be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Rob Gronkowski’s performance on the field was extraordinary, but it was his infectious energy and consistently positive presence that truly set him apart,” said Kraft. “He always brightened everyone’s day. He earned the respect of coaches and teammates through his work ethic, preparation and unselfish approach, while redefining what it meant to play his position. Rob became a fan favorite almost immediately and remained the standard at tight end for nearly a decade. We look forward to celebrating his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame and, in time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Gronkowski also praised the Patriots organization for encouraging him to give back to the community.
