TAMPA, Fla. — Rob Gronkowski is retiring for the second time.
The 32-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end announced his retirement Tuesday via social media.
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) June 21, 2022
Gronkowski retired after the 2018 season with the New England Patriots, but he decided to give it another go with quarterback Tom Brady, who coaxed him out of retirement in 2020 to play for the Buccaneers.
Brady and Gronkowski were teammates in New England from 2010-18, winning three Super Bowls together.
They won another Super Bowl in their first season in Tampa, culminating with a dominating 31-9 performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on their home turf at Raymond James Stadium.
Brady announced his retirement in February before deciding to return for a third season with the Buccaneers 40 days later.
It was widely speculated that Gronkowski might join Brady in retirement, but upon Brady's return, there was hope among fans that Gronkowski might stick around.
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski: A Time to Remember
| Season | Record | Division | Playoffs |
| 2010 | 14-2 | AFC East Champions | Lost to Jets in divisional playoffs |
| 2011 | 13-3 | AFC East Champions | Lost to Giants in Super Bowl XLVI |
| 2012 | 12-4 | AFC East Champions | Lost to Ravens in AFC Championship |
| 2013 | 12-4 | AFC East Champions | Lost to Broncos in AFC Championship |
| 2014 | 12-4 | AFC East Champions | Super Bowl XLIX Champions |
| 2015 | 12-4 | AFC East Champions | Lost to Broncos in AFC Championship |
| 2016 | 14-2 | AFC East Champions | Super Bowl LI Champions |
| 2017 | 13-3 | AFC East Champions | Lost to Eagles in Super Bowl LII |
| 2018 | 11-5 | AFC East Champions | Super Bowl LIII Champions |
| 2020 | 11-5 | NFC Wild Card | Super Bowl LV Champions |
| 2021 | 13-4 | NFC South Champions | Lost to Rams in divisional playoffs |
Instead, Gronkowski will now be going back into his "retirement home," saying he is "walking away from football again with my head held high, knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field."
"The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well," he wrote. "From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all."
Gronkowski leaves the game with the most career touchdowns by a tight end in postseason history (15). He also has the most 100-yard games by a tight end and the most total touchdowns in a single season by a tight end (18 in 2011) in NFL history.