Sunday’s matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots will double as a return home for one NFL legend and a celebration for another. Tom Brady will be calling a game at Gillette Stadium for the first time, while Rob Gronkowski is being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame this weekend. During his nine seasons in New England, Gronk established himself as arguably the greatest tight end in the game — earning three Super Bowl rings, five Pro Bowl selections and piling up a host of position records.
Given Gronk’s place in Patriots history, many wonder if he’ll eventually be honored with a statue outside Gillette alongside Brady. When asked about that during a recent “#AskTom” segment, Brady didn’t just say yes — he joked about how fans might make it happen. “We should crowdsource beer cans this weekend and have the fans build the statue themselves,” Brady quipped. “I’ll join in; that would capture the Gronk mentality and would warm my heart.”
The Brady-to-Gronk connection produced countless highlights — the pair combined for 105 touchdowns (including playoffs), the second-most touchdown catches by a QB-receiver tandem in NFL history. Here are the top five Brady-to-Gronk plays at Gillette Stadium:
5) 2015 vs. Steelers — In the season opener, Brady faked the run and lofted a perfect arc to Gronk in the back of the end zone. Gronk used his size to snare the 50/50 throw and keep both feet inbounds for a touchdown. He dominated that game, finishing with five catches for 94 yards and three scores.
4) 2017 vs. Bills — Lined out wide on a fade, Gronk ran past Buffalo’s coverage and hauled in a one-handed back-shoulder catch for a 17-yard touchdown despite tight coverage from safety Micah Hyde. The play helped fuel a 37-16 Patriots victory; Gronk finished with five catches for 67 yards and a TD.
3) 2014 vs. Bears — After catching a low pass over the middle, Gronk stiff-armed one defender and dragged another into the end zone on a 47-yard touchdown. He totaled nine receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-23 rout.
2) 2011 Divisional Round vs. Broncos — Early in the playoff game, Brady found Gronk in the back corner of the end zone on a diving, juggling catch. Gronk hauled it in, celebrated with his trademark spike, and went on to finish with 10 catches for 145 yards and three TDs in a 45-10 win.
1) 2014 vs. Broncos — Even better than his earlier Denver highlight, Gronk pulled in an incredible one-handed grab while tightly covered by Broncos defenders. The ball landed to his left as he was moving right and Broncos safety T.J. Ward was draped over him, yet Gronk still secured a 20-yard reception with his left hand. He followed with a touchdown on the next play and finished the game with nine catches for 105 yards in a 43-21 victory.
Fan Take: This weekend’s events remind NFL fans how enduring player legacies shape a franchise’s identity — Gronkowski’s induction and Brady’s return spotlight the Patriots dynasty and its impact on the modern game. Their partnership also helped redefine the tight end role, influencing how teams value and schematize around dynamic pass-catching TEs.
Source: www.foxsports.com
