Rob Gronkowski has some big shoes to fill in the Fox studio as he prepares for a regular prime time role with the network.
Fortunately for the New England Patriots great, he has plenty of experience with big names – but his relationship with his legendary head coach did not get off to the best possible start.
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Gronk is going to be a more regular fixture on the Fox pre-game showCredit: Getty
Gronk has made guest appearances with the Fox crew over the last couple of seasons, and with the iconic Jimmy Johnstone retiring from his role with the network he was expected to fill the void.
Per Reuters, that is going to be the case for the 2025 season with Gronkowski joining Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Michael Strahan alongside host Curt Menefee.
It reunites Gronkowski with his Super Bowl winning quarterback at both New England and Tampa Bay as the network confirmed their announcer crews for season ahead – $375million Tom Brady is back for a second year in the booth.
However, the 36-year-old got off on completely the wrong foot during his time with the Patriots, most notably with Belichick and before he was even on the team.
He had a nightmare pre-draft interview with the head coach where he fell asleep after being hungover from a wild one the night before.
Earlier this year the retired superstar tight end shared his version of events on Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast.
“This was one of my mistakes,” explained Gronkowski.
“I party at the University of Arizona one night and got absolutely hammered. Had to jump on the flight the next day and started this little tour. So I already put myself in the bag. So I’m going on this tour. I’m falling, I’m no sleep, I’m hungover already. I’m visiting all these teams and then I got to New England and I’m (gassed).
“So I had the most craziest visit man, my comments I was saying to their questions, I just let it fly,” he went on.
“And then they went through the playbook. They drew up some play. It was Billy O’Brien, the offensive coordinator, with the New England Patriots. He drew up a play. He came back and I didn’t know one single thing. My mind was shut off. And I was just like I basically said something like ‘It doesn’t matter. Just throw me the football.
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Gronk admitted he was hungover during his pre-draft interview with the PatriotsCredit: X@PatsBuzz
“Just like that. And they were just mind-blown.
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Brady and Gronkowski are one of the greatest duos in NFL historyCredit: Getty
“They were like, ‘This guy is out of hand.’ Then I go upstairs, pass right out right on the floor. I’m so tired and pass right out on the floor while waiting for the next coach to talk to. Passed right out. So my visit was probably the worst visit of all time.
“I mean, there was a lot more detail to like how outrageous it was, but we just need a glimpse of it,” he added.
“And I walked out. And I said to myself, that team is either going to draft me or that team is either crossing me off the list right now. And so I said it’s either or. And then look what happened.”
Belichick also shared his side of the story and admitted Gronk didn’t make a very good impression.
“Rob was kind of a shot in the dark,” Belichick recalled.
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Gronk celebrated wildly with his family after being drafted in 2010Credit: X@_MLFootball
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The Patriots called him to tell him ‘enough was enough’Credit: X@_MLFootball
“He came up on his pre-draft visit, had a bad visit. We put him in a room, came back and he was asleep on the floor. Didn’t make a very good impression. I brought him, we’re getting ready to meet with the coaches, he fell asleep on the floor.”
“We just kind of you know, bet that he would come through, and he certainly did big time,” he added.
Belichick and New England clearly saw something in Gronk and knew they could mould him into an all-timer.
Eventually, Belichick selected the Arizona prospect in the second round with the 42nd pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, but it wasn’t long before they had to tell him off.
In fact, it took Gronk all of five minutes to get in trouble with his new team.
“When I was drafted to the Patriots it was a proud moment,” Gronkowski said in ‘The Dynasty:Â New England Patriots’ docuseries on AppleTV+.
“My family came on stage as well. We got in a huddle. We were [cheering] in the huddle, jumping up and down.
“And then all of a sudden I get a phone call from the Patriots, and they said, ‘Hey Rob, you can get off now, like enough is enough.’
“And I’m sitting there like, ‘Wow I’m already in trouble. It’s been five minutes since I’ve been on the Patriots, and I’m already in trouble.”
The larger than life Hall of Fame-worthy tight end spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls and recording 521 catches for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns.
The 35-year-old has four All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowls and the 2014 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award on his resume.
He also holds NFL records for most total touchdowns in a season by a tight end (18) and most receiving touchdowns in a season by a tight end (17).Â
His partnership with Brady is the stuff of legend, and in 2020 the pair teamed up in Tampa Bay where they claimed another world title together in 2021.
He retired in 2022 and has been working as studio analyst ever since but his newly expanded role is likely to see him on NFL Sunday screens more than anytime since his starring role on the field.