Rob Gronkowski has offered his opinion on reports suggesting Tom Brady could return to the New England Patriots at the end of the season when he enters free agency. Brady is set to leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and has been tipped to return to New England.
The 45-year-old quarterback is set to become a free agent for just the second time in his career. Brady's current deal will expire at the end of the season, and there have been suggestions s he could replace Mac Jones for a year in New England before retiring with the team he won six Super Bowl rings with.
But Gronkowski believes those reports are a little far-fetched, suggesting that despite Brady being able to play until he turns 50, there are a number of options available to him - including staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He told SB Nation: "Yeah, I mean, that’s getting a little crazy, for sure! There’s rumours always going around. They’re just saying he’s going to the Niners back home, and he’s going back to the Patriots, he may stay with Tampa Bay.
"So you know, everyone’s just hitting every possible situation so that someone can finally say they’re right at the end. But overall, I think he can definitely play if he wants to. You don’t really see him falling off at all.
"He’s top five in the league in passing yards. So that’s just incredible at age 45. The zip on his ball is still there. It’s still very powerful. He’s reaching his targets with every single throw. So, you see no fall off at all.
"I don’t expect the fall off at all, I can see him going through to age 50 if he wanted to, but that’s up to him. But I definitely see him playing next year."
Brady, who retired back in early 2022 only to reverse his decision, has stated this season that he isn't planning to walk away from the sport again any time soon. And Gronkowski suggested he believes there's no reason Brady can't keep playing until he turns 50.
"It’s a really good goal," said Gronk. "I mean, if you haven’t defined any expectations, yet, I think he needs to go to 50 years old!"
