Gronkowski is in good health heading into Super Bowl LV, despite playing every game this season after a year away from football.
The greatest trick Rob Gronkowski ever pulled in New England was fooling opponents into believing the Patriots offense would play small when it looked big, and big when it looked small. Gronkowski’s magic lived in his ability to threaten defenses as a sixth offensive lineman or a true No.1 receiving option on any given snap. It explains how even his least productive postseason as Patriot, the 2019 playoffs featuring 191 yards and zero touchdowns, still ranked among his most dominant. Gronkowski crushed the Chargers and Chiefs as a run-blocker playing in light personnel groupings, then secured a legendary,29-yard catch out of a one-receiver set versus the Rams in Super Bowl LIII to set up the game-winning touchdown. In Tampa Bay, Gronk worked eight months to get back to his old tricks. The Bucs can now shred opponents through the air and run effectively — averaging 115 rush yards per playoff game — all while Gronkowski’s blocked his butt off and caught just two passes. “I think it all feeds off of Gronk,” Tampa Bay tight ends coach Rick Christophel said during Super Bowl Media Day. “And it helps us in our scheme.” During his own Media Day interview Monday, Gronkowski revealed his post-retirement revival began with an actual ruse. Back in May, Bucs strength and conditioning coach Anthony Piroli required players to film themselves as they completed team-mandated workouts remotely to prove they were getting in shape ahead of training camp. Gronkowski, having spent more than a year out of football, naturally wasn’t an exception. But after days of running sprints and recording himself, he grew tired of it.
