Will Gronkowski retirement affect Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl chances?


Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski has retired from the NFL for the second time in his career. He has opted out of playing his age-33 season and will instead go back to his retirement lifestyle. He was retired for the 2019 NFL season before joining Tom Brady in Tampa Bay for the last two seasons.

‘Gronk’ is probably the best tight end in the history of the NFL. His numbers won’t stack up to the other all-time greats due to injury, but when Gronk was at his peak, he was one of the most dominant players in NFL history. He will retire with four All-Pro seasons and one Comeback Player of the Year award.

Gronkowski spent his entire career with Tom Brady. After being drafted in 2010 by the New England Patriots and spending eight years at Foxborough, he followed Brady to Tampa for the 2020 season. He won four Super Bowls and has been inextricably linked with Brady over the past decade. Brady has already announced he is coming back for the 2022 NFL season at age 44; it would be unwise to completely rule out a Gronk return.

That being said, Gronk’s physical playstyle has led to a lot of injuries over the years. He has dealt with concussions on top of the other ailments, so it may be best for him to call it quits. Gronk is one of the most recognizable faces in the United States; he will have no shortage of options to remain a public figure.

As this all pertains to Tampa’s upcoming NFL season, it doesn’t change much. Gronk was good last year but still far from his former self. He ended up playing 12 games, racking up 55 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns. Gronk is a beast but the Bucs will be just fine with Brady at the helm. Brady has proven he can elevate just about any receiver to playing at an elite level. Still, it will be weird seeing Tom sling it around without Gronk out there.

The Bucs’ Super Bowl odds are currently the second lowest in all of the NFL. At +700, they sit behind only the Buffalo Bills as the preseason favorites. It makes sense; the Bucs should waltz into the playoffs, as they play in one of the weakest divisions in football. However, we do not recommend betting on them to win it all as their odds do not present good value. There will be better opportunities to bet on them throughout the season.

Gronk’s retirement probably didn’t shift the odds too much. While he was an impactful player, it was clear he was past his prime. Also, he could definitely still come back for another playoff run if Brady gives him the call. For now, Gronk retires as arguably the greatest tight end of all time. However, we feel that it may not be the last of number 87 on the field.

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