Rob Gronkowski shares post-Super Bowl update, plans for free agency
After a fourth career Super Bowl title and first with the Buccaneers, Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski made good on his postgame promise and high-tailed it to celebrate at Walt Disney World.
The Tampa Bay tight end spoke to "Good Morning America" from the most magical place on earth and said "winning will never get old."
Following his previous Super Bowl championship with the Patriots, helmed by Tom Brady during the 2018 season over the Rams, Gronk announced his early retirement citing pain and that it was time to hang up his helmet. But he surprised fans by coming back to the NFL when Brady announced his move to Tampa Bay.
"If he retired or something I would have definitely had to weigh out my options," he said. "This is the route I came down, this was the route that was presented to me and I hopped on -- I just felt like it was right."
After his first season playing in Florida, Gronk said "I truly feel like the best I've ever felt."
"I feel unbelievable walking off the field. I just played 20 games as the most games I've ever played. I didn't miss a practice didn't miss a game," he said. "I feel like I'm 18 years old right now -- I got no injuries at all -- I feel fresh."
As far as any differences he's noticed from his time in New England, "workwise, going out on the field and practicing, there really wasn't a difference, because we've always worked hard."
"That connection is you know it just doesn't build just overnight -- in order to keep that connection strong, you got to keep working on it, you got to keep working on it day in and day out, and that's what we did," he explained.
Although he is a free agent for the first time in his career, he said, "when I come back to football -- I just don't see why I wouldn't be back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
His girlfriend and Sports Illustrated model Camille Kostek has been a strong support system for Gronk this season.
"It's just unbelievable. Just to have someone you know by your side, through the thick and thin of everything. Win or lose too, just knowing that you have someone on your side -- always cheering me on no matter what the situation," he said.
The Bucs team after-party was "nothing like back in the day" especially amid the pandemic, but Gronk said "I got some dance moves in."
