New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll responded this week to the suggestion that Rob Gronkowski has some interest in playing for his former coach in New York.
The New York Giants are just a couple of weeks away from the start of a 2023 campaign with a great deal of promise. The team took a huge jump forward in development last season under new head coach Brian Daboll. They reached the playoffs for the first time in six seasons and actually upset the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings in their Wild Card game.
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Now, the team is hoping to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in 15 years. On paper, they have the roster to make it happen, but last week a future Hall-of-Famer admitted to some slight interest in helping the team achieve that special goal.
During an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Up and Adams,” New England Patriots great Rob Gronkowski made some interesting comments about his former tight ends coach. “Brian Daboll wants me on his roster, I know it,” he said. “He can’t get me out of retirement, but he would have the best chance to get me out of retirement.”
New York Giants record (2022): 9-7-1
The unexpected comment made its way back to Daboll on Monday, however, the second-year coach tried to cool the speculation of a second Gronkowski unretirement from heating up any further.
“I wouldn’t read too much into that is what I’ll say,” the New York Giants head coach said during his Monday media scrum. “I am close with Rob, so [I’ve] got a lot of respect, [and] admiration. Coaching him for four years, he’s a good friend, we’ve talked. I’m not saying we talked about that, but he’s a close friend. When you coach someone for four years and he’s a very productive player for you and really a good person — we are from the same town — so wouldn’t read too much into that.”
While it certainly would be interesting if the five-time Pro Bowler signed with Big Blue, the team’s top tight end spot is already filled by big-ticket trade acquisition Darren Waller.
Gronkowski last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2021 NFL season.