Rob Gronkowski’s greatest catches, including Tom Brady’s favorite – New England Patriots Blog

When tight finish Rob Gronkowski was making ready to play his remaining recreation with the New England Patriots — a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Tremendous Bowl LIII — he was requested in regards to the favourite catches of his profession.

He paused briefly earlier than sharing perception on what he valued most in a reception.

“I just like the one-handers. I keep in mind all of the one-handers — these are all the time memorable,” he stated.

“It’s robust to make one-handers. You’re all the time practising two [hands] and also you don’t need to make one-handers. However you solely make them when it’s actually needed and you’ll solely attain the ball. You keep in mind these as a result of it’s uncommon.”

That’s why Gronkowski highlighted a Week 16 landing catch in opposition to the Buffalo Payments within the 2017 season, and a 10-yard seize in opposition to the Denver Broncos within the divisional spherical of the playoffs following the 2011 season as two of his most memorable.

So when placing collectively an inventory of Gronkowski’s best grabs, diploma of problem is of course a prime consideration.

Clutch catches are a giant a part of it too.

Gronkowski’s 29-yard diving reception in Tremendous Bowl LIII — with Rams linebacker Cory Littleton on his again hip and quarterback Tom Brady delivering an ideal ball — arrange the Patriots’ solely landing of the sport.

Then, within the Buccaneers’ 31-9 victory over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LV, Gronkowski hauled in two landing receptions (8 and 17 yards), though they didn’t fall into the class of different jaw-dropping catches over his profession.

Brady, throughout his Patriots days with Gronkowski, had usually famous how the long run Corridor of Famer “simply exhibits up on the greatest moments.” It’s why Brady had rated Gronkowski’s work in Tremendous Bowl XLIX amongst his favourite.

“In 2014, he catches the landing on [Seahawks linebacker] Ok.J. Wright. Then we beat him on a crossing route below strain, however solely Gronk makes that play along with his size and pace. Then I threw him one other, name it a deep cease route, on Ok.J. Wright once more,” Brady had recalled.

“I’ve thrown rather a lot to him through the years. He’s been so reliable, constant.”

Then there’s what Gronkowski does after the catch that additionally warrants consideration amongst his greatest work, with defenders usually bouncing off him, or hanging on as he lunges ahead with pressure.

A 44-yarder in a 46-23 win over the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 15, 2020, matches effectively into that class — Gronkowski twisting to make the preliminary tight-window seize after which having security Jeremy Chinn bounce off him as he raced for an extra 16 yards after the catch.

It was an amazing play, however does it even rank among the many prime 10 of Gronkowski’s all-time greatest?

Editor’s observe: Gronkowski introduced his retirement from the NFL for the second time on Tuesday. This story is up to date from the unique that revealed on Jan. 30, 2019.

1. Nov. 2, 2014 — Patriots 43, Broncos 21: A leaping, one-handed catch between a number of Broncos defenders in a victory at house. This play defied physics as a result of Gronkowski’s momentum was heading in the wrong way from the place he caught the ball. The 20-yard seize got here on the aim line with 14 minutes, 28 seconds remaining within the fourth quarter, and Gronkowski simply narrowly was dominated down earlier than crossing the tip zone. It was so shut that Patriots coach Invoice Belichick challenged the ruling. On the sideline, microphones picked up Brady approaching Gronkowski and saying, “How the f— did you catch that?”

2. Jan. 14, 2012 — Patriots 45, Broncos 10: Considered one of Gronkowski’s favorites, he specified by the again left-hand nook of the tip zone and initially made contact with the ball with solely his proper hand earlier than bringing his left hand in to safe it as he crashed to the bottom for a 10-yard rating to provide the Patriots a 14-0 lead en path to a blowout win.

3. Nov. 16, 2014 — Patriots 42, Colts 20: An unusual mixture of pressure and pace that makes Gronkowski so uncommon outlined his 26-yard catch-and-run landing within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Colts. He spun away from an preliminary would-be tackler, then picked up pace and raced previous, and thru, a number of defenders for the ultimate landing in a 22-point win.

The unimaginable landing from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski who makes a prime 5 catch within the 2017 season pic.twitter.com/FIn8EFLYo4

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 24, 2017

4. Dec. 24, 2017 — Patriots 37, Payments 16: This was considered one of Gronkowski’s all-time favorites — a one-handed, 17-yard landing in opposition to the Payments during which he stretched his proper hand out as security Micah Hyde was draped throughout him as they ran towards the left pylon. The ball was positioned completely, and it was a catch that few, aside from Gronkowski, may make.

5. Feb. 3, 2019 – Patriots 13, Rams 3: The 29-yarder down the left seam to arrange the one landing of the sport — made all of the extra spectacular contemplating Gronkowski was enjoying via important ache that he later cited when saying his preliminary retirement.

6. Aug. 26, 2010 — Rams 36, Patriots 35: In his rookie season and enjoying within the preseason, Gronkowski caught a cross across the 5-yard line and dragged a Rams defender into the tip zone from there as he hopped on one foot. In some ways, it was a preview of what was to return over the course of his profession. Reflecting on it, Gronkowski didn’t price it as extremely as a result of he was focusing extra on the precise catch, saying: “I keep in mind it. It was an excellent play, however it was a traditional catch nonetheless.”

7. Nov. 18, 2013 — Panthers 24, Patriots 20: Gronkowski beat press protection in opposition to the Panthers after which dragged three defenders into the tip zone for a 9-yard landing in a back-and-forth basic on Monday Evening Soccer. Simply pure will.

8. Nov. 21, 2011 — Patriots 34, Chiefs 3: A 19-yard catch-and-run landing in opposition to the Chiefs during which he completed with a half-flip that landed him on his again ultimately zone. He merely would not be denied.

9. Dec. 11, 2011 — Patriots 34, Commanders 27: An unforgettable play that highlighted his athleticism, Gronkowski stayed on his toes alongside the sideline regardless of the presence of a number of Commanders defenders whom he shrugged off for a 50-yard acquire.

10. Oct. 4, 2020 — Buccaneers 38, Chargers 31: A 29-yard catch with linebacker Kyzir White throughout him — which was primarily a 50-50 ball — and Gronkowski nonetheless got here down with it. It was a basic instance of how Gronkowski was usually open despite the fact that he was tightly lined — a staple of his profession.

11. Jan. 24, 2016 — Broncos 20, Patriots 18: Two performs that fall into the “clutch scenario” class got here within the AFC Championship Sport at Denver, with Gronkowski snatching a 40-yard rainbow from Brady down the precise seam throughout a spirited remaining landing drive that culminated with him splitting double protection to return again for a 4-yard rating to shut the hole to 20-18.

12. Feb. 1, 2015 — Patriots 28, Seahawks 24: Considered one of Brady’s favorites, as Gronkowski obtained a step up the precise sideline on Wright within the Tremendous Bowl and reached his large arms up ultimately zone to haul it in for a 22-yard landing.

13. Dec. 26, 2020 — Buccaneers 47, Lions 7: A 33-yard landing catch with security Tracy Walker III working stride for stride down the precise sideline with Gronkowski … solely to have Gronkowski outstretch his arms on the final second to grab it out of the air “Inspector Gadget” type. Walker may solely clap his arms in frustration.

14. Nov. 15, 2020 — Buccaneers 46, Panthers 23: He was tightly lined by Chinn, one of many prime gamers from the 2020 draft class, and never solely made the contested catch however then had Chinn bounce off him, which allowed him to race an extra 16 yards on a 44-yard acquire.

15. Oct. 26, 2014 — Patriots 51, Bears 23: His 46-yard landing in opposition to the Bears showcased his highly effective stiff-arm, as he blasted a defensive again after which outran everybody else to the tip zone.

16. Oct. 18, 2020 — Buccaneers 38, Packers 10: Gronkowski’s back-shoulder landing catch on a high-arcing ball from Brady was made to look routine, however he nonetheless needed to alter his physique and hold his toes in bounds alongside the left sideline. A mirrored image of Gronkowski’s ballerina-type toes.

Summing up Gronkowski’s physique of labor, Brady was effusive in his reward.

“He takes plenty of pleasure in what he does and takes it very critically. We ask him to do plenty of issues,” Brady stated. “I feel it’s spectacular to be 270 kilos, to play mainly each play, to win each matchup within the run recreation in opposition to 300-pound defensive ends, 240-pound defensive ends. We ask him to cross block. Then we ask him to run routes and win in opposition to linebackers, win in opposition to safeties, generally win in opposition to corners. He’s a bodily freak.

“For him to excel the best way he has, I feel him and Tony Gonzalez are the 2 best tight ends to ever play the sport.”