Tag: Rob Gronkowski

Two of Bill Belichick’s former players say he’ll thrive as UNC’s football coach

Tom Brady isn’t the only former New England Patriots star excited for Bill Belichick’s UNC football coaching gig.

In 24 seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick ran the NFL and became the envy of many in the football world.

Belichick won six Super Bowl Titles in New England, several more AFC East Championships and coached Tom Brady, the greatest football player of all time.

Now, in December 2024, Belichick is trying to build the UNC football program into a dynasty.

Brady previously gave Belichick a vote of confidence as the Tar Heels’ new head coach. Two more of Belichick’s former Patriots – star tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Julian Edelman – joined Brady in saying Belichick will thrive at North Carolina.

Gronkowski, more widely-known as Gronk, is a 5-time Pro Bowler who won four Super Bowls with Belichick. Gronk also led the NFL in touchdown receptions during the 2011 season.

“Coach Belichick, he’s going to do an awesome job coaching those young bucks at UNC,” Gronk said during Wednesday’s Art of Sport LA Bowl. “I love the guy, I’m wishing him nothing but the best. He’s going to make college football that much more suspenseful, that much more fun and that much more interesting. And I can’t wait. The guy’s a winner. He’s going to eventually be winning games at the University of North Carolina. I’ll be tuning in, just like everybody else. Coach Belichick, hey all you players go out there. Coach, you can sign me a little dough as well then. Let’s go, I’m working for you right now. I’m a recruiter.”

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Edelman, a 3-time Super Bowl Champion (and Super Bowl LII MVP) known as one of the postseason’s most clutch performers, spoke highly of Belichick during NFL on Fox.

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“The more I think about it, the more it makes sense,” Edelman said of UNC hiring Belichick.”He knows how to project players. Bill’s dad coached at North Carolina. He loves anything his dad was a part of. The hoodie in a Jordan Tar Heel Powder Blue? When the capsule comes out, when the Air Belichicks come out, when you get the sneaker and you get the cutoff hoodie, I’ll be the first in line. Let’s go!”

It’s safe to say Belichick’s former players are excited about his new opportunity. UNC players are share that same sentiment – and transfers are committing because of the Belichick Effect.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Rob Gronkowski (who once vetoed a trade to Detroit) would play for Dan Campbell’s Lions

Dan Campbell has Rob Gronkowski singing a different tune about the Lions.

It wasn’t that long ago the Detroit Lions were still considered a non-marquee NFL team. In fact, the Lions were once so completely rudderless that future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski vetoed a trade to Detroit in 2018 at the near-apex of his legendary career.

To be fair, who could blame him back then?

Gronkowski is singing a different tune about the 12-2 Lions these days. (Yes, even with all of Detroit’s injuries.)

After Lions head coach Dan Campbell delivered a fiery speech about Detroit players not feeling sorry for themselves amidst their poor injury luck, Gronkowski told FanDuel’s Kay Adams that he “loved” Campbell.

So much so that he’d love to play for him if he was still in the NFL. That means, in effect, Gronkowski would finally play for the Lions because, you know, Campbell coaches them. What an unexpected twist:

It goes to show you what having a genuine leader like Campbell does for an NFL team. If someone like Gronkowski is now singing Campbell’s praises so much that even he wouldn’t mind playing for the Lions, one can only imagine the degree to which active Detroit players love their coach.

Well, there’s also the fact that the Lions are really, really good and are no longer cellar dwellers. Every great player wants to win. That definitely doesn’t hurt.

Ex-Patriot and future Hall of Famer offers opinion on Bill Belichick coaching North Carolina

This former Patriot expresses some stark question marks with Belichick coaching in college.

The head coaching vacancy at North Carolina has centered around one name in particular — Bill Belichick. The former New England Patriots coach turned analyst is ready to get back into coaching, but can he make it at the college level?

One of his former superstar players weighed in on that question.

Rob Gronkowski has this to say about his former head coach, according to Inside Carolina and The Dan Patrick Show.

Coach Belichick is the best coach, hands down, in the game of football. He has more knowledge than anyone I’ve ever talked to and just more knowledge of the game inside and out. He knows everything. The playbook, rulebook, you name it. Special teams, offense, defense. This guy knows it all. And he would be a great coach at the University of North Carolina.

My only question is, how would he do — because when you’re a head coach in college, it’s kind of like not really being a head coach. It’s not about all football, from my understanding and meeting head coaches in college and seeing what they do. It’s more about managing the program and also managing these kids and recruiting them. I can’t see Coach Belichick being all-in in that situation.

Coaching-wise, 100%. On the field, getting these players ready for the NFL, that’s what he would do. But, hey, when it comes to recruiting, I think that’s the question mark, and that’s really up to him if he can see himself doing that. Me, personally, I can see him getting tired and old with all that transfer portal, NIL stuff going on.

From the sounds of it, the future Hall of Fame tight end has the same opinion as most former players and NFL analysts. Belichick would be an amazing coach, but when it comes to recruiting, can he keep up with the younger crowd of coaches?

The name Belichick alone will grab some recruit’s attention with his ideal preparedness for the next level, which will help. Belichick and North Carolina continue communication into Wednesday, December 11.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Tom Brady’s epic impersonation of Bill Belichick coaching in college

How accurate would this be?

Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady took the latest Bill Belichick news as an opportunity to impersonate his former coach.

Belichick is in talks to become the next head coach at the University of North Carolina. However, nothing has been finalized as of this typing.

Brady appeared alongside former Patriots legends Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman on FOX NFL Sunday for a reunion segment for the former Patriots trio.

He was asked if he could imagine Belichick coaching at the collegiate level. This gave the former quarterback the opportunity to break out his hilarious impersonation.

‘”Listen, do you really want to come here? We don’t really want you anyway. I mean, I guess you could come. We’ll figure out if you play,'” Brady said while impersonating Belichick.

It would be awesome to be a fly on the wall at a hypothetical recruiting visit hosted by Belichick.

Regardless, given his incredible resume, he probably wouldn’t have to do much convincing for players to commit. It would certainly be surreal to see him standing on the sidelines on Saturdays instead of Sundays.

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Rob Gronkowski credits Patriots legend for career development

Rob Gronkowski claims Rob Ninkovich played a major role in his development as a player

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski credited one teammate in particular for his development. That player is former longtime Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich.

When speaking with reporters, via NESN’s Tim Crowley, Gronkowski explained why he chose Ninkovich to introduce him for his football legacy award at “The Tradition” event.

“It was definitely a no-brainer,” Gronkowski said. “It was really cool they let me choose something as well. Ninkovich, we go way back. Without Ninkovich, I wouldn’t have been the player that I was. I’m being serious. We used to go at it in the run game, 1-on-1’s. … It is like this. We make the best of it. That’s what we were like on the practice field. Just back-and-forth all the time, passing game and running game.”

Ninkovich was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and a former defensive leader. He’s also a member of New England’s All-Dynasty Team.

It’s no surprise that his hard work rubbed off on other players on the roster, including Gronkowski, who went on to become arguably the greatest tight end of all time.

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Joe Burrow actually recruited Rob Gronkowski to Bengals

What could have been if Gronk signed with the Bengals.

Over the years, Rob Gronkowski has said if he were to play with a non-Tom  Brady quarterback, it would have only been Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Gronkowski said this in February of 2022 after Tom Brady’s retirement. He said it again at a later date.

And it apparently almost came to fruition.

Appearing on “DudesOnDudes,” Gronkowski revealed that Burrow actually sent him a text after some of those public comments—but he never responded because he thought it was a prank.

“And then I get a text message,” he said. “‘Yo Gronk, what’s up man? I saw you talking about me in the media, it’s Joe Burrow. I would for you if you came to the Cincinnati Bengals.’ I was like, I ain’t getting got again.”

No telling if the text would have led to Gronk joining the Bengals, but tight end had been a sour spot for a few years while the team worked through one-year veterans.

Gronk, 35, hasn’t played since 2021.

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How Rob Gronkowski got into trouble with Patriots on draft night

Rob Gronkowski got a little too excited after being drafted by New England

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski described how he experienced the best moment of his life and got into trouble simultaneously.

When appearing on “Pats from the Past,” the four-time Super Bowl champion said getting drafted was the best moment of his career, but he also explained how he got into trouble during his moment onstage.

“That was the best moment and best feeling of my life right there and then,” Gronkowski said. “…I was up on stage putting the helmet on, going one-on-one versus my brother because he was in the NFL at the time. He put the Detroit Lions helmet on. We were jumping up and down, “Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo,” which we love to do.

“That’s how we party. We always were jumping up and down acting like maniacs. So we brought the party to the stage, and [former director of football operations] Berj [Najarian] gave me that call like, ‘Hey, get off the stage. This is what we’re not about.’ I literally put the phone down and was like, ‘I’m already getting in trouble. This is great.'”

Gronkowski was drafted in the second round with the 42nd overall pick. The rest is history as he became one of the best tight ends of all time. His 18-touchdown season in 2011 is the most by any tight end in NFL history.

He would play for New England for nine seasons before finishing his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nevertheless, New England was where he made his biggest impact, and the fans are forever thankful for it.

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Legendary TE Rob Gronkowski reveals price for him to fight Shaq

Rob Gronkowski named his price for a boxing match with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was an attendee at the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight.

He was part of a star-studded audience that included the likes of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. During the live event, Gronkowski and O’Neal teased a boxing match. It was hard to tell initially if the pair were serious or joking.

When appearing on the “Dudes on Dudes” podcast, Gronkowski indicated he really would fight the former NBA star in a boxing match for the right price.

“Fight night was legit man. And we’re just chilling there, I don’t know who else is going to be around,” said Gronkowski. “I sit down and Shaq’s right next to me as well. I’m like ‘Oh alright, this is going to be a great night.’ I love Shaq,  I’m already friends with Shaq.

“I actually would fight Shaq in a boxing match. Here’s the thing: I would never do the UFC stuff, no matter what the payment is, no matter how much money it is. But I would box someone if the money was right, no doubt about it. At least $12 million, minimum.”

Gronkowski measures in at 6-foot-6, and O’Neal stands at 7-foot-1. It would be quite the tale of the tape. The former Patriots tight end does have the age advantage. He is 35 years old while O’Neal is 52.

For all of the suspense that the Paul-Tyson fight lacked, a Gronkowski-O’Neal headliner could potentially be more entertaining. Hopefully, somebody comes up with the $12 million because that would make for great television.

Your move, Netflix.

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Rob Gronkowski claims he was friends with ejected World Series fan

The story of the ejected World Series fan just took another turn

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski claimed he was friends with the New York Yankees fan who interfered with Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Mookie Betts during Game 4 of the MLB World Series on Tuesday night.

The Yankees ended up winning the game by an 11-4 margin, but the Dodgers closed out the series with a victory on Wednesday

Gronkowski appeared on the “Up & Adams Show” and spoke about his connection with the fan. The play itself happened in the bottom of the first inning, and the fan could be seen grabbing Betts’ glove and pulling the ball out.

“That guy right there grabbing Mookie Betts’ glove was my friend in college,” said Gronkowski. “He was on the ice hockey team, the club Arizona Wildcats ice hockey team. Let me tell you, the whole hockey team, they were absolute maniacs.”

The fans involved have been identified as Austin Capobianco and John Peter. Both men were banned from Game 5 of the World Series, and there are still questions on if that punishment will stay intact next season as well.

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FOX NFL Sunday shares prank pulled on Rob Gronkowski

Rob Grokowski was pranked by his FOX NFL Sunday fellow panelists

The FOX Sports NFL Sunday crew pulled one over on Rob Gronkowski … a while back.

The setup was the Cowboys were going to activate a tight end Rich Russo, the name of FOX Sports’ lead NFL game director.

Gronk didn’t put two and two together to get four and bought into the discussion.

The segment was taped for a FOX Sports seminar and finally made air on Sunday.