The great career of Rob Gronkowski is history. The tight end and longtime teammate of Tom Brady has decided against continuing for one more season. In his retirement statement, he gushes about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Munich – Three years ago Rob Gronkowski already did it once, but then the tight end changed his mind. This time, the decision is said to be final. “Gronk” says goodbye to the NFL and ends his active career.

In a statement on social media, Gronkowski explained his decision and let his mind wander. You can read his full statement again here:

Rob Gronkowski: His resignation statement in wording

“In college, I was once asked to write about my dream job, how I would pursue that dream and where I wanted to go to achieve it. Whenever I wrote about my future – no matter what it was about – I wanted to be a professional football player.

But for this essay, we had to decide on a place. So I wrote that I wanted to play in Tampa Bay, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for many reasons, the sunny weather being number one. I totally forgot about the essay until two years ago when I had the opportunity to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Let me tell you, the journey over the last two years in Tampa has far surpassed what I originally wrote back in college. And for that, I want to thank the entire, first-class Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization. For a wonderful journey, trusting me with my comeback and letting me help build a championship team.

I will finish with my head held high, my football career knowing that I gave everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field. The friendships and relationships I made will last forever and I appreciated each and every teammate and coach for giving everything they could as well.

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– Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) June 21, 2022

From career ending back to football and another championship and now back to relaxing, thank you all! Buccaneers fans and Krewe, none of this would be possible without you, you all dig in and push us every game, thank you for everything you do. Good luck with everything that’s coming up. Maybe we’ll be sailing the seas soon. Arghhhhh!!!”

What stands out is that the New England Patriots, who drafted him and thus brought him into the NFL, made no mention in Gronkowski’s statement. However, he had already thanked the franchise, with which he won three Super Bowls, in 2019 when he first retired.