“Put me in the end zone and make me tiny”: Gronk’s hilarious Brady statue comment
Legendary TE Rob Gronkowski re-joined the team for a day so that he could officially retire a Patriot, but he says he’s not in the same league as Brady.
Rob Gronkowski is officially a New England Patriot again, and forever.
The four-time Super Bowl champion signed a one-day contract with the Patriots on Wednesday to retire with the team that drafted him, closing the circle on one of the most dominant and entertaining careers in NFL history.
Rob Gronkowski is officially a New England Patriot for life 🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/eyL2O09H3K
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) November 12, 2025
“I’m a Patriot for life,” Gronkowski said after the ceremonial signing alongside team owner Robert Kraft. “My career started here and 100% needed to end here.”
The decision came with deep personal meaning. Gronkowski said the move was inspired by his longtime friend and charity partner Susan Hurley, a former Patriots cheerleader and founder of CharityTeams, who had asked him to officially retire as a Patriot. When Hurley passed away earlier this month after a battle with cancer, Gronk knew what he had to do.
“Honoring her wish was an absolute no-brainer,” he said.
Kraft praised Gronkowski’s larger-than-life presence and impact on the franchise. “His clutch performances were legendary,” Kraft said. “And his connection with fans has truly made him a New England icon.”
“Put me in the end zone and make me tiny”
Even in retirement, Gronk couldn’t resist a joke, especially when Tom Brady’s name came up. Asked about his eventual induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame, Gronkowski laughed at the idea of getting a statue next to his longtime quarterback and friend.
“Tom’s one of a kind,” Gronk said with a grin. “If you put one, just put me in the end zone and be tiny.”
Newly retired #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski on a possible statue:
— New England Sports Fellow (@_JosephManning) November 12, 2025
"If you put one, just put me in the endzone, and be tiny. Because Tom is one of a kind. The greatest. He played for 20+ years here. I think that the only statue to be deserved here is Tom Brady."
(🎥: @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/r25WcjuM65
“He’s the greatest of all time. He played till 45 years old. If I was still playing and I was on the Patriots throughout my whole career and played till, like 38, 40 years old, then I would say yes. I deserve a statue right next to Tom. But Tom is one of a kind. He had 20-plus years here. I mean, the greatest. So, a statue is just a little bit out of the question from the standards that Tom Brady set for us.”
Drafted by the Patriots in 2010, Gronkowski quickly became one of the most unstoppable tight ends the NFL has ever seen. Over nine seasons in New England, he racked up 79 touchdowns, earned four All-Pro selections, and helped deliver three Super Bowl titles.
He briefly retired in 2019 before reuniting with Brady in Tampa Bay, where the duo won another championship in 2020. Now back in Foxborough, Gronk’s legacy has come full circle.
“The whole Gronk persona, everything about myself… was all because of the fans here in New England,” he said. “They accepted me from the start and let me play my game.”
WHOLESOME: Rob Gronkowski signs a 1-day contract to retire with the #Patriots.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) November 12, 2025
“I'm a New England Patriot. Patriot for life. My career started here. It 100% needed to end here. It was an absolute no-brainer to come here and retire as a Patriot.”
GOAT ❤️
pic.twitter.com/NT3ERZ9rMZ
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