Rob Gronkowski isn’t retiring, which should surprise nobody

He said he would decide on his future after the Super Bowl, and he’s made his decision.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski announced Tuesday that he will be not be retiring, and plans to play in 2018. In a post on his Instagram, Gronkowski said that he met with head coach Bill Belichick and informed him of the decision.

Gronkowski said after the Super Bowl that he would be considering all his options during the offseason, and though there was some credibility to the thought he might retire, it’s not exactly surprising that he isn’t. He’s still a dominant player, still young enough to be considered among the best in the game, and he’s shown nothing but dedication to his craft through the years.

There were other rumors, like the one that suggested he was considering a move to Hollywood to try and break into the movie business. Another was the old standby: trade rumor, especially in the wake of all of the offseason reports about internal struggles within the Patriots organization.

Gronkowski did lend some credibility to the rumors by saying he would “look at my future for sure” after the Super Bowl. Gronkowski had nine receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the Super Bowl against the Eagles.

The only real concern was his significant injury history. Gronkowski has had many injuries over the years:

• 2011: Gronkowski sprains his ankle in the AFC Championship against the Ravens; played injured in Super Bowl XLVI.
• 2012: Broke his forearm against the Colts; missed five games.
• 2013: Broke his forearm in January, missing the Patriots’ playoff game against the Ravens, which ended in a loss
• 2013: Suffered a fractured vertebra, missing the preseason and six regular season games
• 2015: Missed one game due to a knee strain
• 2016: Missed first two games with a hamstring issue
• 2016: Missed a November game with a chest injury
• 2017: Missed one game due to a thigh injury
• 2017: Suffered a concussion against the Jaguars in the AFC Championship

That long list of ailments was the strongest link to a potential Gronkowski retirement, but it was always considered a longshot. Gronkowski loves what he does, and he’s extremely good at doing it. When the Patriots traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks, it became even clearer that the team felt confident Gronkowski would return.

When he does eventually retire, Gronkowski will go down as one of the best tight ends to ever play the game. In his 102 career games, he’s had 474 receptions for 7,179 yards and 76 touchdowns. As far as touchdowns go, he’s second among tight ends behind only Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates, and tied for 31st among all positions. He has made five Pro Bowls, and was a first-team All-Pro four times, including the 2017 season. If his health is under control, all of those numbers should increase next season.