More than a thousand fans braved the drizzle to watch Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski step onto the stage in a red jacket, surrounded by teammates and a surprise visit from Tom Brady.
Key points
- Rob Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame induction drew a rain‑soaked crowd of over a thousand fans at Patriot Place Plaza.
- Tom Brady appeared in a red jacket, and numerous former Patriots—including coach Mike Vrabel and many teammates—attended or sent video messages.
- Gronkowski’s speech highlighted personal anecdotes, his NFL records as a tight end, and earned praise from offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Patriot Place Plaza in Foxborough filled with over a thousand fans on Saturday afternoon despite light rain, as Rob Gronkowski prepared for his Patriots Hall of Fame induction. The crowd spilled onto the stairs, the fence outside the Harp, and even the surrounding streets to catch a glimpse of the former tight end in his signature all‑red ensemble.
A star‑studded lineup of former Patriots showed up, including Tom Brady—who arrived in his own red jacket as part of Fox’s broadcast crew—coach Mike Vrabel, Danny Amendola, David Andrews, Malcolm Butler, Patrick Chung, Stephen Gostkowski, Chris Hogan, Brian Hoyer, Matt Light, Rob Ninkovich and Matthew Slater. Julian Edelman and owner Robert Kraft sent video messages, the latter citing recovery from back surgery.
A Rain‑Soaked Celebration
Gronkowski’s speech mixed humor with nostalgia. He recounted falling asleep—hungover—during his pre‑draft visit, a call from Bill Belichick’s aide Berj Najarian to stop celebrating on stage, and dancing at college pool parties during the NFL lockout. He also struggled with the word “resiliency,” a slip his girlfriend Camille Kostek had warned him about, and capped the ceremony with his trademark football spike.
During the 90‑minute program, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels praised Gronkowski’s impact, noting his unique pre‑game presence. Gronkowski’s career statistics were highlighted: a record‑tying 17 receiving touchdowns in 2011, 1,163 postseason receiving yards, 81 postseason receptions and 12 postseason receiving touchdowns—all NFL records for a tight end.
Former Teammates and Legends Attend
Local fans embraced the moment further, with a nearby Dunkin’ on Route 1 temporarily rebranding its signage to “Gronkin’” for the weekend—a nod Gronkowski called a sign he’d “made it in New England.” After the ceremony, he flew to West Point for Fox’s Veteran’s Day pre‑game show before returning to Foxborough for the Patriots‑Packers game the next day.
Reader questions
Who attended Rob Gronkowski’s Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony?
Former teammates such as Danny Amendola, David Andrews, Malcolm Butler, Patrick Chung, Stephen Gostkowski, Chris Hogan, Brian Hoyer, Matt Light, Rob Ninkovich, Matthew Slater, coach Mike Vrabel, and Tom Brady in a red jacket were present; Julian Edelman and owner Robert Kraft sent video messages.
What NFL records does Gronkowski hold as a tight end?
He holds the records for most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in a season (17 in 2011), most career postseason receiving yards (1,163), most career postseason receptions (81) and most career postseason receiving touchdowns (12).
Source: bostonglobe.com