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Rob Gronkowski retired to play with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in April 2020, but the future Hall-of-Famer didn’t exactly record all of the low-season reps before returning to the grid.
Gronkowski detailed Monday a complex system he devised for low-season training, finding a way to fool Tampa Bay coaches as he prepared to return to the field. Gronkowski was required to send videos of him running sprints every day during the off-season, but, as Gronk usually does, he found a nice loophole.
The five-time Pro Bowler said he was recorded with several different shirts during a day of off-season training, and then used those videos for several days to send to coaches. Gronkowski didn’t seem too remorseful based on Monday’s comments, laughing at the ignorance of his coaches months ago.
Maybe those extra wind sprints for Gronkowski weren’t worth it after all. Gronkowski added 45 catches and seven touchdowns in 2020 and recorded a 29-yard reception for the Buccaneers in his NFC championship victory over the Packers.
Gronkowski will have a chance to win his fourth Super Bowl on Sunday as the Buccaneers face the Chiefs. The start of Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.