It will be the second time the tight end retires in New England.
WASHINGTON — Rob Gronkowski will be a part of the New England Patriots again for one day.
The former tight end is set to sign a ceremonial one-day contract with the Patriots on Wednesday, Nov. 12, so he can retire as a “Patriot for life.” The move will honor a longtime wish of his close friend, Susan Hurley, who died of cancer earlier this month.
“I am signing a one-day contract with the Patriots this week coming up to retire as a Patriot and be a Patriot for life,” Gronkowski said on Fox Sports during a broadcast.
The 36-year-old played for the Patriots from 2010 until 2018, winning three Super Bowl championships. He would then join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020-2021 before “retiring” to become a Fox Sports analyst.
The Patriots announced the one-day contract on Monday. It will be the second time the tight end retires in New England.
Hurley died of ovarian cancer on Nov. 1 at the age of 62.
In August, Hurley had suggested the idea during an unveiling of a new playground in Boston with the former Patriots tight end.
“Can we just make it official and sign him for a day so he can retire as a Patriot?” Hurley said, according to ESPN.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft supported the idea, which would make Gronkowski eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame next year.
“I like that a lot, and the reason that we’re really going to do that is because of Susan Hurley,” Kraft told ESPN.