Who does not need some reaffirmation about themselves sometimes? And it seems like even a top-tier pro athlete can have these episodes. The otherwise confident and charming Rob Gronkowski once felt very unsure of himself. But the tight end had just the right friend to call up. Enlisting his friend Tom Brady’s help to prepare for a photo shoot, the tight end did gain some confidence. It was not just a simple conversation over the phone.
According to Tom Brady, before a big photoshoot for GQ, Gronkowski was not feeling sure about the shape he was in. So the tight end called up the quarterback and asked for a favor. While the season was over, they had not thrown a pass since the end of the season. According to Brady, they went up to a baseball field in April in the middle of “nasty weather”. The duo put up a good workout session with rain pouring in. Completing around 60 passes and routes, they did not drop the ball once.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JULY 12: Rob Gronkowski attends the Ice Shaker’s Boats, Bottles, and Bros Media Event at The Tall Ship on July 12, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Lisa Dragani/Getty Images)
Eventually, Gronk found his mojo back and was ready for the shoot. According to Brady, it was just the confidence booster the tight end needed. “He was ready for his photo shoot because of one day of the two of us working out together,” said Brady. “You know it was good execution, but I think for him it was more important that he felt like he was shredded,” he added.
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady: The unlikely partnership
The New England Patriots drafted Gronkowski in 2010, thrusting the tight end to line up for Tom Brady in his early years. The duo has since become one of the most prominent quarterback and tight end partnership in the NFL. Gronkowski is popular for his fun and party-hard persona outside the field. TB12, on the other hand, is a renowned perfectionist on the field and a focused competitor through and through.
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FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 25: Tom Brady #12 and Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots react after Gronkowski scored a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on October 25, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Even though both have quite distinctive characteristics, they forged a very strong partnership off and on the field. In their time together with the Patriots, the duo won 3 Super Bowls in 2015, 2017 and 2019. They made it to the SB in 2012 and 2018 as well but lost those two. After the 2019 season, Gronkowski announced his retirement only after 9 seasons in the league.
However, when Brady called on him to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, the TE obliged. The duo won their 4th ring together in 2021, while Gronkowski even caught a ball for a TD by Brady. They solidified their legacy together. After one more season in Florida, Gronk hung his boots again this year. He has remained retired even after a lot of speculations about another comeback.
Watch this story: The time Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady proved their chemistry was unmatched in the league.