Rob Gronkowski will be back in action on Sundays — sort of.
The former Buccaneers tight end, 33, is returning to Fox as an analyst for “Fox NFL Sunday” and “Fox NFL Kickoff” this season, roughly four months after he announced his second NFL retirement.
“I’m Back!!! See you Sunday!” Gronkowski tweeted Saturday night.
Gronkowski previously served as an analyst for Fox in 2019, the same year he retired from the NFL after nine seasons with the Patriots. The five-time Pro Bowler changed course in the spring of 2020, however, when he reunited with his former New England teammate, quarterback Tom Brady, in Tampa Bay for two seasons.
Former Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, here in Feb. 2021, is returning to Fox following his second NFL retirement. Getty ImagesIn their first year with the Buccaneers, Gronkowski and Brady, 45, made it to the Super Bowl, where they defeated the Chiefs in February 2021. Although the dynamic duo hoped for a repeat during the 2021 season, the Buccaneers fell short of a Super Bowl berth in January, when they were knocked out of the divisional round of the playoffs by the eventual champion Rams.
In the days following the loss, Brady announced his decision to step away from football after 22 seasons. He famously changed his mind and confirmed his NFL return 40 days later.
As for Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl champ, he decided to call it a career for the second time in June.
“I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field,” Gronkowski wrote on social media at the time.
“The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well. From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all. Buccaneers fans, the Krewe, without you guys, none of this is possible, all of ya brought it every game, thank you for all you do.”
Whenever Brady decides to retire again, he too will be joining Fox Sports, but as their lead NFL analyst. The quarterback agreed to a monster 10-year, $375 million deal with the network earlier this year.
