"I think he’s done" - Buccaneers receiver shares honest opinion about Rob Gronkowski's comeback possibility

On June 21, former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski retired from the NFL. Gronkowski announced the news on Instagram.

He wrote:

“I want to thank the whole entire first-class Buccaneers organization for an amazing ride, trusting me to come back to play and help build a championship team. 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.

“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 previously retired in 2019, before returning the next season to link with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. Given that he's unretired once already, it wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see him return to the NFL once again.

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, however, thinks Gronk is set on retiring.

During an interview with KPRC 2 Houston's Ari Alexander, Evans said:

“It hurts to lose Gronk, the best tight end ever,” said Mike Evans. “We’re going to miss Gronk.”

“I hope he comes back. With Tom and Gronk you never know. I wouldn’t be mad if he came back, I’d be excited. But I think he’s done. He plays the tight end position with max effort, he takes a pretty big beating and I’ve seen his body after some of the games and I understand why (he retired).”

Not long after Gronkowski announced his second retirement, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN that he wouldn't be surprised if his client returned.

"It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back and Rob answers the call. This is just my opinion but I wouldn't be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season." - Drew Rosenhaus via ESPN

Mike Evans was excited when Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady texted him that he was going to return

Miami Dolphins v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Evans also opened up about how excited he was when Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady texted him that he was returning to the team. Brady famously retired at the end of last season only to "unretire" a little over a month later.

Evans said:

“He sent me a link to the article about his final touchdown ball selling for more than $500,000,” said Evans, who caught Brady’s “final” touchdown pass in the playoffs vs. the Los Angeles Rams, and then tossed it into the crowd.

“He told me ‘that’s a lot of tuition money,” said Evans. “I told him ‘in my defense, I didn’t know you were going to retire right then.'”

Brady sent him another message:

“There’s more touchdowns in our future.”

Several hours later, he announced his return.

“I was happy,” said Evans. “I didn’t think he was really coming back, I thought he was playing around and a few hours later he announced it.”

The 2022-23 season will be Evans' third with Brady. The Buccaneers will be hoping to make another Super Bowl run after failing to defend their crown last season.

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