Rob Gronkowski is not coming out of retirement.
A short-lived rumor claimed the iconic tight end was mulling a return to the field.
Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos were among the teams to be linked with the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers superstar.
But the man himself — currently working as an analyst for FOX Sports — has shut down the reports.
“Crazy bro,” he told FOX colleague Jordan Schultz. “They must know something about me that I don’t.
“I wish I still had those powers, because that would be cool if I did. But I was just in Australia for a few days.
“Now it’s time to relax a little. No football.”
Broncos fans were gutted to see their dream fall away so quickly.
“Would still be so cool to see my favorite player come back AGAIN,” wrote one.
Another pleaded: “Why did you do this to us?”
“Rob Gronkowski would be absolute cinema if he played for Broncos,” a third posted.
Gronkowski was dominant during his playing days.
He recorded 621 receptions, 9,286 receiving yards, and 92 touchdowns, while winning the Super Bowl four times.
After retiring in 2020, he returned a year later to win his fourth ring with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
Gronk has now been joined by his former teammate at FOX and is thriving in his new role thanks to his larger-than-life personality.
He was 33 when he retired for the second — and final — time in 2022.
But he thinks Travis Kelce, one of few players who could potentially be considered better at the position than Gronk, has more left in the tank at 35.
“I believe he can go another two years,” Gronk told Kay Adams on Tuesday’s Up and Adams.
“We’re talking about his stats being down – are you kidding me?
“How are your stats down if you have 80+ catches at 35 years of age.
“I think I’ve only had 80+ catches one time in my career and I was 22 years old.
“He’s the security blanket, he gets first downs whenever they need him to. If you watch him run routes, he’s very smooth and crisp with them. It’s just one of those years.”
Payton’s search for a tight end will likely lead to an early selection in April’s NFL Draft.
The former New Orleans Saints head coach is looking for a ‘joker’ who can take on multiple roles in his offense.
Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah have mocked Michigan tight end Colston Loveland to Denver.
The scouting combine should unearth more clues about who will be heading to Mile High in April.
For now, it seems extremely unlikely Bo Nix will be throwing to Brady’s favorite weapon.
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