Last week, former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski very subtly sparked unretirement rumors after he said the person who would have the best chance of bringing him out of retirement would be Giants coach Brian Daboll.
Daboll, who’s entering his second year as the coach of New York, was asked about Gronkowski’s comment on Tuesday. The coach made sure to note that while he respects his friend, he knows nothing will come out of this rumor.
“I’m close with Rob, so got a lot of respect, admiration,” Daboll said. “Coached him for four years. He’s a good friend. We’ve talked, I’m not saying we talked about that, but he’s a close friend. When you coach someone for four years and he’s a very productive player for you and really a good person. ... Wouldn’t read too much into that.”
"He's a close friend"
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) August 21, 2023
Brian Daboll on Rob Gronkowski saying that he is the only coach that could lure him out of retirement: pic.twitter.com/XkDEzKu0rg
Gronkowski told Kay Adams on a recent Up & Adams show that Daboll “can’t get me out of retirement, but he’d have the best chance of getting me out of retirement.” It doesn’t sound like Gronkowski has any plans to return to the NFL, especially after the 34-year-old previously said there’s a “slim chance” that would happen.
Daboll worked as a tight ends coach for the Patriots from 2013 to ’16. During that time, the Patriots won one Super Bowl, and Gronkowski earned two first-team All-Pro bids and two Pro Bowl selections. He was also the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in ’14.
The four-time Super Bowl champion retired for a second time after the 2021 season. He previously retired before the 2019 season, until quarterback Tom Brady convinced him to return to play for the Buccaneers for two seasons in ’20 and ’21.
