Please Gronk, don’t retire

The thought of Rob Gronkowski retiring didn’t even cross my mind until I saw PFT’s tweet right before the Super Bowl:

At first I was completely dismissed the thought. Like hell Gronk is going to retire. He’s 28. He’s playing the tight end position at the highest level we’ve ever seen it played. Why would he pack up and leave?

After the Patriots heartbreaking loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII, Gronk was asked about his future. Here’s what he said:

I don’t know. I mean, I’m definitely going to look at my future, for sure. Sit down the next couple of weeks and see where I’m at.

Feelings can certainly change through an offseason. It’s hard, after having just put your body through an entire NFL season and coming off a Super Bowl loss, not to reevaluate your future. Hell, I reevaluate my future every time I climb a flight of stairs and find myself out of breath at the top (but seriously, what am I doing with my life?). There’s a very good chance that after a couple of months, Gronk’s body feels great and he’ll be ready for the 2018 season.

But, there’s also real reason out there for him to retire.

Gronk has been in the NFL for eight seasons now and in that time he’s had two different herniated disks, a forearm fracture (that needed surgery twice because the first one was a failure), tore his MCL and ACL and has had multiple concussions. He’s body has been beaten up from the word go and it’s not out of the question to think that someone of Gronk’s size might want to keep what little body he has left in tack, since he’s not even 30 yet.

I can’t say what Gronk will ultimately do, but what I can say is Sweet Brady I hope he doesn’t retire.

I hope with every ounce of my being that he comes back, even if it’s just for one more season. Just one more glorious season to witness Gronk spikes and physical feats that just don’t seem possible for a man of his size.

As someone who avidly partakes in the fantasy football, losing Gronk would be an unimaginable blow. Yes, the likes of Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz have been great for fantasy owners and have been solid fantasy tight ends but they don’t come close to Gronk. No one compares to the Gronk. Gronk was the most consistent tight end this season and did that while averaging 10 plus fantasy points per game. He’s a machine that can not be stopped.

As a Patriots fan, the retirement would be even more devastating. I honestly don’t know what I’d do with myself if Gronk retired this offseason. Not only is Gronk amazing to watch on the field, he’s also amazing to watch off. He’s the most loveable meathead in the world and for a team that so often silences personalities, it’s beautiful to see Gronk be Gronk. From horribly pronouncing Spanish words to giggling at every mention of 69, Gronk is the definition of a goober and the world always needs more well intentioned goobers.

Now that the door is open, there will be a bajillion articles this offseason wondering, speculating over Gronk’s future. Hopefully, all this worry will be for not, and Gronk will be back on the football field in 2018.

If he’s not, well, here’s to you Rob Gronkowski.