“I Was Actually Traded To the Detroit Lions”: Rob Gronkowski Once Recalled How He Played His Retirement Card to Avoid Getting Separated From Tom Brady

Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski is one of the best TD makers in the history of the NFL. His size and speed practically make him a loaded tank. And just like how he used his speed on the field, he had a knack for using another kind of speed off the field. Or so it would seem. Revisiting a clip from April 2022, one can see Gronkowski beaming as he talks about the one time he pulled a fast one over Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

Appearing on Fox Football Sunday, Gronkowski shares the one time the Patriots almost traded him to the Detroit Lions. And how he used the threat of retirement as a means to keep him in New England.

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“I did have a career-altering trade, almost a career-altering trade, and it was about two years ago. I was actually traded to the Detroit Lions, and I got the phone call and this was [when] I was contemplating if I should retire or not, about two years ago. And I was like, ‘you just traded me to the Lions’, I go, ‘I’m retired like I don’t know how that trade can go through’, and then two days later the trade never went through. And then I was [there] like, ‘oh no I’m retired. How can you trade me’, and I stayed on the Patriots.” Said Gronk.

Rob Gronkowski’s retirement saga: a tale to be repeated again?

It’s safe to say, his trick to keep himself in New England paid off well, as the Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl that year. His retirement at the end of that year, though, was no surprise. The constant back and forth between Gronkowski and the management was out there for all to see. And he seemed to finally have had enough of it, and football. That is until superstar BFF Tom Brady came knocking.

Gronkowski came out of retirement in 2020, and the Patriots promptly traded him to the Buccaneers. That, too, seemed like a brilliant choice as he went on to win the Super Bowl that year as well. Gronk made a massive impact with the Bucs, with 100/126 for 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns in just 28 games. It was truly a mesmerizing partnership with Tom Brady, maybe a more refined version of the Brady-Mike Evans pairing.

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After 11 years in the NFL, and with 4 Super Bowls, Gronkowski says he will not return to football. Even if Tom Brady asks him again. But the Buccaneers are struggling with their season. And after a disappointing loss to the Steelers on Sunday, will Brady turn to his favorite man once again?