One of the biggest stories surrounding the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots since their Super Bowl loss has been the status of star tight end Rob Gronkowski. Immediately following the heartbreaking loss to Philadelphia, Gronkowski would not commit to playing next season. Since then, there’s been rumors linking him to a career in both acting and wrestling.
Now with the offseason underway, it’s looking like retirement talk surrounding Gronkowski was just that — talk.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the expectation is now that the All-Pro pass catcher will return to the Patriots next season.
The expectation is that #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will return for 2018 after pondering his future, I’m told. He may never make a grand announcement, but the belief is entertainment opportunities (acting WWE) will wait. pic.twitter.com/WwbLZS4zfy
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2018
The talk of retirement could be two-fold. First off, Gronkowski could still be angling for a contract extension from New England. Secondly, injuries have caught up with him big time in recent years. It’s in this that his refusal to commit to playing next season started long before February.
If Gronkowski is indeed returning to the Patriots, it will be a major boon. He remains one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the game. Last year alone, the four-time All-Pro recorded 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games.