Rob Gronkowksi, Who’ll Sign a 1-Day Contract to Retire as a Patriot, Asks Robert Kraft for a Signing Bonus

Rob Gronkowski, regarded as the greatest tight end to ever play the sport, retied as a Patriot for life.

Rob Gronkowksi, Who’ll Sign a 1-Day Contract to Retire as a Patriot, Asks Robert Kraft for a Signing Bonus

Robert Kraft in circle and Rob Gronkowski (Image via X/IMAGO)

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Rob Gronkowski signed a one-day contract with the New England Patriots to retire with the team that drafted him. During the ceremony, Patriots owner Robert Kraft tried to woo Gronk into signing an extended contract.

A sneaky ploy for one of the greatest tight ends to start in Thursday’s divisional game against the 2-7 New York Jets. Not that the 8-2 Patriots require his services, but it’s always great to field a player with the caliber of the 36-year-old.

Since we play the Jets tomorrow night, how about a two-day contract?

Robert Kraft quipped during Gronkowski’s signing ceremony at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday

Gronkowski fired back with a question that had everyone in the room bursting into laughter.

Let’s do it. What’s the signing bonus?

Gronkowski said

Nothing’s changed.

A bemused Kraft replied.

The Patriots lead the AFC East and are currently the second seed in the conference behind the Denver Broncos. Tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper have played key roles in the Patriots’ resurgence as a powerhouse in a division that was dominated by the Buffalo Bills until last year.

In 10 appearances, Henry caught 30 passes from 47 targets for 377 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hooper accumulated 13 catches from 15 targets for 174 yards and 1 touchdown.

Why did Rob Gronkowski sign a one-day contract with the Patriots?

Kraft had planned to sign Gronk to a one-day contract so that he could retire as a Patriot in the same year when he was eligible for induction into the franchise Hall of Fame. However, the veteran patriarch decided to expedite the ceremony this year.

Rob Gronkowksi, Who'll Sign a 1-Day Contract to Retire as a Patriot, Asks Robert Kraft for a Signing Bonus
Rob Gronkowski (Image via IMAGO)

Gronkowski, now an NFL analyst alongside Tom Brady at FOX Sports, announced that he would retire as a ‘Patriot for life.” He wanted to fulfill a promise made to a friend and a Patriots fan named Susan Hurley, who passed away from stage 4 cancer.

The reason that we’re really going to do that is because of Susan Hurley.

Gronkowski revealed (HT/ESPN)

Hurley was a North Reading native who founded CharityTeams, a small business that helps nonprofits raise funds through athletic events. According to the Boston Herald, Hurley requested Kraft to sign Gronk on a one-day contract so that he could retire as a Patriot.

This generous gift of $1.8 million shows [Gronk’s] deep connection to New England and proves that his heart will be forever in Foxboro. And I’m going out on a limb here. Now, can we just make it official and sign him for a day so he can retire as a Patriot?

Hurley told Kraft during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 19

Gronkowski played nine seasons with the Patriots after he was drafted in the second round in 2010. He won two Super Bowls before briefly retiring from football in 2019. In an interview, Gronk revealed that the years of injuries had taken a toll on his mental health. So he opted to step away from the limelight to spend time with family and friends.

I was not in a good place. Football was bringing me down, and I didn’t like it. I was losing that joy in life… I could play right now if I wanted to play. I’m feeling good. Physically, I could do it. Mentally-wise, desire-wise, it’s not there.

Gronkowski said

His hiatus lasted one year. Gronk returned to football and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a third ring. In June 2022, Gronk officially quit playing football and switched to TV punditry.

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