{"id":56500,"date":"2019-01-13T08:51:36","date_gmt":"2019-01-13T13:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=56500"},"modified":"2019-01-13T08:59:28","modified_gmt":"2019-01-13T13:59:28","slug":"new-england-patriots-tight-end-rob-gronkowski-to-seriously-consider-retirement-after-2018-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/01\/13\/new-england-patriots-tight-end-rob-gronkowski-to-seriously-consider-retirement-after-2018-season\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski To Seriously Consider Retirement After 2018 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday\u2019s Divisional Round playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers could be the last home game of Rob Gronkowski<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s storied career. According to NFL Network\u2019s Ian Rapoport<\/strong>, the big tight end will once again reconsider retirement<\/a> at the conclusion of the 2018 season. Rapoport added that \u201cpeople close to [Gronkowski]\u201d openly wonder whether Gronkowski will hang up the cleats for good.<\/p>\n

New England Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski to \u201cStrongly Consider\u201d Retirement<\/h1>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time Gronkowski has openly contemplated retirement. Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, Gronkowski reportedly went back-and-forth on the idea of calling it a career without a new contract. Bill Belichick<\/strong> reportedly tried to trade Gronkowski, but the trade fell through when Gronkowski said he would only play for the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong>. Eventually, Gronkowski and New England reached an agreement<\/a> on a reworked contract.<\/p>\n

Normally the league\u2019s most dominant tight end, 2018 hasn\u2019t been the best season for Gronkowski. Playing in 13 games, Gronkowski recorded just 47 receptions for 682 yards and three touchdowns. Back and ankle injuries clearly hampered Gronkowski, forcing him out of three games and clearly taking away some of his speed, agility, and explosiveness.<\/p>\n

2018 wasn\u2019t Gronkowski\u2019s first experience with the injury bug. Since entering the league in 2010, Gronkowski has battled through ankle, back, and forearm injuries to go along with concussions and a torn ACL. His physical style of play invites these injuries, and Gronkowski has taken more of a beating than perhaps anyone else over the past nine seasons.<\/p>\n

Regardless of when he retires, Gronkowski will be remembered as the most dominant tight end of his time. Throughout his nine-year career, the Four-Time All-Pro recorded 521 yards for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns. He did this despite playing a full 16-game season just two times throughout his career. Gronkowski\u2019s best season likely came in 2011, when he finished the year with 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns. The touchdown total led the league, and the 1,327 yards was the highest in league history for a tight end. That record stood until 2018 when San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle<\/a><\/strong> recorded 1,377 receiving yards.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>