Report: Rob Gronkowski Considering Retirement, Hollywood Acting Career
Rob Gronkowski is more than just an excellent football player. He’s a brand. So it should come as no surprise that “Gronk” would eventually find a second career as an entertainer off the football field.
But that career change could come sooner than anyone expected.
In the wake of Gronkowski’s cryptic post-game comments after the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss, a new report has emerged regarding the tight end’s potential retirement. Bill Burt of the Eagle Tribune reported late on Tuesday that Gronk is considering retirement from the NFL to pursue an acting career. Burt added that he got recommendations to switch to acting from Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Johnson, in particular, has been semi-retired from his first career as a pro wrestler in WWE since the early 2000s. He has since become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. Johnson most recently finished second behind only Mark Wahlberg ($68 million) with a whopping $65 million earned in 2017, according to Forbes.
Rob Gronkowski makes a 4-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
It would be hard to believe that Gronkowski, who would also be retiring from a physically demanding profession from which injuries have taken their toll on him, wouldn’t heed Johnson’s advice.
The question for Gronkowski is whether he could actually act. He doesn’t exactly have a track record in that department. But at the very least, Gronk could probably make it as a reality show host. Or perhaps just a football analyst.
Gronk made $10.75 million in 2017 due to reaching the top of his incentives. As a successful actor, he could make that with a two-month shoot, and wouldn’t have to deal with nearly the amount of injuries he’s dealt with in his NFL career.
This all started because Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported on Sunday before the Super Bowl that he wouldn’t be surprised if Gronk retired after the game. That didn’t happen, but retirement is apparently still in play. However, considering the source, it could all be a play by Gronk’s agent Drew Rosenhaus to get him a better contract.
At 28 years old and coming off a Super Bowl in which he caught nine passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns, Gronk is still in his football prime. So it would still be somewhat shocking if he called it quits now. Stay tuned.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].
