The Patriots have traded retired tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he will be reunited with Tom Brady.
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first to report the trade, which was later confirmed by both teams.
The Patriots did not disclose the terms of the deal, but according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, New England is sending Gronkowski and a seventh-round draft pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick.
Schefter said Gronkowski's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, texted ESPN saying, “Pending the physical, Rob has agreed to play for Tampa this season. He will honor his current contract at this time.”
The Buccaneers were reportedly the only team he wanted to play for.
Brady signed with Tampa Bay in free agency last month after 20 years with the Patriots.
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Gronkowski announced his retirement on Instagram in March of 2019, but speculation abounded throughout the 2019 regular season that he could return. But that never happened, with the mercurial tight end instead turning his attention to his CBD Medic business and the WWE.
The tight end suffered a number of injuries throughout his career and underwent at least six surgeries. In the 2018 season, he missed three games due to back and ankle injuries and was diagnosed with a concussion on Jan. 21.
Gronkowski ended his Patriots career with three Super Bowl rings and 79 career touchdowns. He was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl five times, named to the AP All Pro team four times and won the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year. He leads all NFL tight ends with career average of 68.4 receiving yards per game.
He played in 16 playoff games throughout his career, amassing 81 receptions, 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns.
His last catch was a 29-yard reception from Brady in Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams. That set up Sony Michel's game winning touchdown run. Gronkowski fought off double-coverage to haul it in. It was the last of six catches in the game.