Rob Gronkowski will only play for the Buccaneers if he returns in 2022
As the fans and the franchise sit and wait, the Gronk continues to consider his future, but with Tom Brady’s return and managerial changes, a decision can’t be far off
The star tight end’s future is still up in the air but at least we now know where he will be playing IF he plays again.
Rob Gronkowski pledges allegiance to the Bucs
With uncertainty still surrounding just what Rob Gronkowski’s future in the NFL will be, there are those who believe he won’t return and those that believe he will. Either way it is well known that the tight end is currently contemplating retirement for the second time in his career after his playing an 11th season in the league and second with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to reports, however, Gronkowski has at the very least made it clear that if in fact he does return to play a 12th season in 2022, it will be with the Bucs and no other team.
“The Buccaneers situation is just too good if I decide to go back and play,” Gronkowski told SB Nation. “Like I said, I love all my teammates there. They are all great teammates and all selfless players, they are there for the team and what’s best for the team and the whole organization. If I do play football again, it’ll be for the Bucs.”
Gronk’s choice and the new look Buccaneers
Though Gronkowski doesn’t seem to be certain, there is one thing that is and that’s the fact that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a different team to the one he left. With former head coach Bruce Arians now retired and former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles now the man in charge, the Gronk will be stepping into a new era in Tampa Bay. On the other hand, he can still count on catching passes thrown by Tom Brady after the legendary quarterback decided that he would end his recently announced retirement.
Asked about his choice or lack there of and Gronkowski was non-committal if not evasive. “I don’t really have a decision date. I don’t ever have to decide - if I don’t decide then that just means I’m not playing!” he said. “There really is no decision that I have to make in my life, maybe I’ll just go the rest of my life without ever deciding. People will be like ‘Rob, what did you decide?’ when I’m like 70 years old, and I’ll say: ‘It’s still up in the air.’”
Have the Bucs and Gronkowski had contact?
Having directly stated where he would play if he were to return, Gronkowski was quick to clarify that there had been no contractual negotiations between himself and the Buccaneers, citing the fact that he is still deciding what to do. “That will start if I decide that I want to play,” he said. “There’s no reason to do that while there’s a decision to be made first. It’s all about if I decide to.” With that, the question now becomes, ‘will we get to see one of the league’s best tight ends one more time?’