01of 21Starting Off StrongTom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via GettyThe now-legendary duo joined forces when Rob Gronkowski (affectionately known as Gronk) began playing for the New England Patriots in 2010. By that time,Tom Bradyhad become synonymous with the team, having played with them since 2000.
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Starting Off Strong
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty
The now-legendary duo joined forces when Rob Gronkowski (affectionately known as Gronk) began playing for the New England Patriots in 2010. By that time,Tom Bradyhad become synonymous with the team, having played with them since 2000.
02of 21Friends On and Off the FieldMSA/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via GettyThe pair would go on to lead the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories.In 2018, Gronktold reportersthat the pair’s chemistry on the field is due to their friendship off of it.“I would say basically the friendships are developed over football too. Over studying football together, getting together in the offseason, extra stuff during the season and you just want to build that up so you can be on the same page and be the best chemistry possible that you can be,” Gronkowski shared.Bradysaid of the tight end in return, “I love the guy. He has had a big impact on my career personally, professionally … I am very lucky to play with him and we’re going to keep fighting. We are going to keep going after it week in and week out. We’re going to figure out a way to get this thing turned around.”
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Friends On and Off the Field
MSA/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty
The pair would go on to lead the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories.
In 2018, Gronktold reportersthat the pair’s chemistry on the field is due to their friendship off of it.
“I would say basically the friendships are developed over football too. Over studying football together, getting together in the offseason, extra stuff during the season and you just want to build that up so you can be on the same page and be the best chemistry possible that you can be,” Gronkowski shared.
Bradysaid of the tight end in return, “I love the guy. He has had a big impact on my career personally, professionally … I am very lucky to play with him and we’re going to keep fighting. We are going to keep going after it week in and week out. We’re going to figure out a way to get this thing turned around.”
03of 21Winning TogetherRob Gronkowski.Rob Carr/GettyGronk told reporters that what headmires most about his teammateis “just the way he prepares. His work ethic, the way he’s just still going at his age. Just still has a competitiveness to him every single time he steps out on the field. It’s obviously an honor to be next to a quarterback like that in the huddle and it’s really basically how he brings it every single day, no matter what kind of day it is.”
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Winning Together
Rob Gronkowski.Rob Carr/Getty
Gronk told reporters that what headmires most about his teammateis “just the way he prepares. His work ethic, the way he’s just still going at his age. Just still has a competitiveness to him every single time he steps out on the field. It’s obviously an honor to be next to a quarterback like that in the huddle and it’s really basically how he brings it every single day, no matter what kind of day it is.”
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Robin Marchant/Getty
Heshared of the famously healthy QB, “Seeing him take a shot. Just seeing his face after, like disgust, like, ‘I’m putting this alcohol in my body.’ "
05of 21Hug It OutJim Rogash/GettyGronk going in for a hug after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets in October 2015.
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Hug It Out
Jim Rogash/Getty
Gronk going in for a hug after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets in October 2015.
06of 21Time to CelebrateStan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via GettyThe pair celebrated their Super Bowl LI win in Boston, Massachusetts, in February 2017.
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Time to Celebrate
Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty
The pair celebrated their Super Bowl LI win in Boston, Massachusetts, in February 2017.
07of 21Man DownTom Brady, Rob Gronkowski | Credit: John Tlumacki, Getty.John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via GettyBrady tackled Gronk on the field of Fenway Park in Boston after Gronk stole his jersey and made a run for it. The teammates were there for Opening Day 2017 for the Boston Red Sox, where Brady threw out the first pitch.
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Man Down
Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski | Credit: John Tlumacki, Getty.John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty
Brady tackled Gronk on the field of Fenway Park in Boston after Gronk stole his jersey and made a run for it. The teammates were there for Opening Day 2017 for the Boston Red Sox, where Brady threw out the first pitch.
08of 21Another Day, Another Super Bowl AppearanceElsa/GettyThe pair celebrated a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LII.
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Another Day, Another Super Bowl Appearance
Elsa/Getty
The pair celebrated a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LII.
09of 21Show of SupportMichael Reaves/GettyIn December 2018, Brady looked over Gronk after he got injured during a game against the Miami Dolphins.
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Show of Support
Michael Reaves/Getty
In December 2018, Brady looked over Gronk after he got injured during a game against the Miami Dolphins.
10of 21Big MomentMIKE ZARRILLI/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockThe pair celebrated after their win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in February 2019.
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Big Moment
MIKE ZARRILLI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The pair celebrated after their win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in February 2019.
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Back at It Again
Gronkowski, who had retired from football just a year earlier, announced that he, too would be joining the Florida team alongside the QB.
Brady celebrated with anInstagram post captioned, “Time to run it back Gronky!”
12of 21Together AgainCliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via GettyGronk insisted that, though playing with Brady again was definitely a draw to joining the Buccaneers, the dynamic duohadn’t planned on playing together again.“It kind of just happened. With my retirement and him hitting free agency, it just kind of lined up like that,” Gronk said, according toTheTampa Bay Times.
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Together Again
Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Gronk insisted that, though playing with Brady again was definitely a draw to joining the Buccaneers, the dynamic duohadn’t planned on playing together again.
“It kind of just happened. With my retirement and him hitting free agency, it just kind of lined up like that,” Gronk said, according toTheTampa Bay Times.
13of 21Winner, WinnerBradyposted a videoof the pair celebrating after the Buccaneers won against the Green Bay Packers in the 2021 NFC Championship.
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Winner, Winner
Bradyposted a videoof the pair celebrating after the Buccaneers won against the Green Bay Packers in the 2021 NFC Championship.
14of 21Rhyme TimeFor these two, it really is all fun and games.
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Rhyme Time
For these two, it really is all fun and games.
15of 21Having a LaughHow does that saying go again? Buddies who laugh together, win four Super Bowls together!
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Having a Laugh
How does that saying go again? Buddies who laugh together, win four Super Bowls together!
16of 21Imitation Is the Greatest Form of FlatteryBradyshowed off his Gronk impression— which is pretty spot on if you ask us — and said of his pal after telling a story, “It’s just him being Rob, and that’s why everyone loves him.”
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Imitation Is the Greatest Form of Flattery
Bradyshowed off his Gronk impression— which is pretty spot on if you ask us — and said of his pal after telling a story, “It’s just him being Rob, and that’s why everyone loves him.”
17of 21Friends ForeverThe pair proved they really do know a lot about each other when theytook a friendship test. Gronk joked at one point, “You just know me so well, it’s like you come to work with me every day.” Brady responded, “It’s like I seen you and I’ve known you for 10 years!”
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Friends Forever
The pair proved they really do know a lot about each other when theytook a friendship test. Gronk joked at one point, “You just know me so well, it’s like you come to work with me every day.” Brady responded, “It’s like I seen you and I’ve known you for 10 years!”
18of 21Fourth Time’s a CharmCliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via GettyOn Feb. 7, 2021, the pairwon their fourth Super Bowl togetheragainst the Kansas City Chiefs. Gronk scored two touchdowns during the game, making him the player with the second-most receiving touchdowns in Super Bowl history, with five in his career. He is second behind Jerry Rice, who has eight.
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Fourth Time’s a Charm
On Feb. 7, 2021, the pairwon their fourth Super Bowl togetheragainst the Kansas City Chiefs. Gronk scored two touchdowns during the game, making him the player with the second-most receiving touchdowns in Super Bowl history, with five in his career. He is second behind Jerry Rice, who has eight.
19of 21Celebrating VictoryRob Gronkowski and Tom Brady.Mike Ehrmann/GettyGronk’s first touchdown of the game was also a first for Brady, who hadnever before thrown a first quarter touchdownin a Super Bowl. The pair celebrated post-game.
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Celebrating Victory
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady.Mike Ehrmann/Getty
Gronk’s first touchdown of the game was also a first for Brady, who hadnever before thrown a first quarter touchdownin a Super Bowl. The pair celebrated post-game.
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Always and Forever
After Brady announced his retirement in early 2022, Gronk was there to throw support behind his bestie,whom he calleda “legend.”
“Thank you for your dedication to the game, putting the team in the best possible position to win every year, all the records that were broken, the Super Bowls, the memories, and your friendship through the last 12 years,” he continued.
source: people.com
