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Rob Gronkowski makes hilarious Tom Brady retirement joke

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•06/25/22•

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Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

This week, Rob Gronkowski announced his second retirement from the NFL in the same offseason Tom Brady retired and un-retired within 40 days. That led to a predictable — but still hilarious — joke on Twitter shortly after the announcement.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted a “retirement scoreboard” with Gronkowski now leading Brady 2-1. Gronkowski retweeted it and made the joke many NFL fans were probably thinking.

“Be careful, Tom doesn’t like to lose,” Gronkowsi said, along with a crying laughing emoji.

Gronkowski and Brady were teammates for 11 years, first with the New England Patriots and then with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, Brady will get ready for another season without “Gronk,” who initially retired after the 2018 season but rejoined Brady in Tampa.

Rob Gronkowski formally announces NFL retirement for second time

Rob Gronkowski is hanging up his cleats — again.

Gronkowski is retiring 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.