Bill O'Brien raves about Rob Gronkowski after retirement announcement

Rob Gronkowski called it a career on Tuesday after a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is not the first time the tight end has gone through the retirement process but for now, he seems done with playing football.

When Gronkowski entered the NFL, Bill O’Brien was on the Patriots’ staff and eventually his offensive coordinator. O’Brien was asked about the tight end and his thoughts on him, where the current Alabama OC had nothing but rave reviews. He even said Gronkowski was the “best” tight end he has ever been around.

“I had Rob his first two years in the league,” O’Brien said via Albert Breer of The MMQB. “He was the best TE I have ever been around. He was an even better person. He was 6’7 260 lbs with incredible athleticism.

“But on top of that, he brought a new level of toughness to the team. He brought great energy to the building every day. Gronk never had a bad day. He was an awesome guy to coach.”

Gronkowski led the NFL in touchdowns during O’Brien’s one season as the New England offensive coordinator with 17. The tight end also had 90 receptions and 1,327 yards.

There was just a short overlap between their days with the Patriots but that was more than enough for O’Brien to have top-level reviews for Gronkowski.

Rob Gronkowski announces second retirement

Rob Gronkowski is hanging up his cleats — again.

Gronkowski intends to retire from the NFL, he announced via Instagram Tuesday. It’s the second time he’s retired from football, previously doing so after the 2018 season with the New England Patriots. But when Tom Brady chose to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2020 season, Gronkowski came out of retirement to reunite with his good friend. There, they won another Super Bowl title.

“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 Instagram. “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.”

Gronkowski, who starred at Arizona before heading to the NFL, battled injuries last year, but still put up good numbers. He hauled in 55 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns for Tampa Bay, which finished 13-4 and fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.