Glenn Thomas Gronkowski (born March 25, 1993) is a former American football fullback. He played college football at Kansas State. After going undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft, Gronkowski was signed by the Buffalo Bills,[1][2] and was in the practice squad of the New England Patriots from 2016 until he was released in 2017.[3]

Glenn Gronkowski
No. 47, 48
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1993-03-25) March 25, 1993 (age 31)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:Williamsville (NY) North
College:Kansas State
Undrafted:2016
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Gronkowski attended Williamsville North High School. While there, as a senior, he recorded 53 receptions for 762 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense.

On defense, he recorded 43 tackles, eight interceptions, two returned for touchdowns and two recovered fumbles. He also averaged 35.8 yards per punt and handled kickoffs. He was named the Section VI Class AA North Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

During his high school career, Gronkowski recorded 125 receptions for 2,076 yards and 23 touchdowns.

College career

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After high school, Gronkowski attended Kansas State, where he majored in marketing.

As a true freshman in 2012, he decided to redshirt. As a redshirt freshman in 2013, he appeared in all 13 games, starting five. He recorded five receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns. He was also a lead blocker for running back John Hubert, who finished fourth in the Big 12 in rushing yards and recorded the 14th 1,000-yard season in school history. For the season, Gronkowski was named an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection and was a First-team Academic All-Big 12 selection as well.

In 2014, he appeared in all 13 games with three starts. He recorded five receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown. He was named First-team Academic All-District 7 and First-team Academic All-Big 12. For 2015, he started all 13 games. He recorded five receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed the ball 11 times for 45 yards and one touchdown. He also threw a four-yard touchdown pass for fellow fullback Winston Dimel, the first Wildcat non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass since 2010 (Daniel Thomas).[4] He was named Second-team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press and First-team Academic All-Big 12 and First-team Academic All-District 7.

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+18 in
(1.88 m)
239 lb
(108 kg)
30+34 in
(0.78 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.71 s 1.59 s 2.70 s 4.45 s 7.10 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)
10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)
17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[5][6][7]

Buffalo Bills

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After going undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft, Gronkowski signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.[8] He was released on September 12, 2016, after only playing in one game.[9]

New England Patriots

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On October 1, 2016, Gronkowski was signed to the Patriots' practice squad.[10] He was released on October 12, 2016.[11] On October 17, 2016, he was re-signed to their practice squad.[12] Gronkowski was again released from New England's practice squad on November 7, 2016.[13] He was re-signed again on November 16, 2016.[14] He was released again on November 30, 2016, but was re-signed again two days later on December 2, 2016.[15] On February 5, 2017, the Patriots won Super Bowl LI. In the game, the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34–28 in overtime to give Gronkowski his first Super Bowl championship.[16]

On February 14, 2017, the Patriots signed Gronkowski to a futures contract for the 2017 season.[17] He was waived on September 2, 2017.[18]

Personal life

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Gronkowski is a native of Williamsville, New York.[19] He is the youngest of five brothers, four of which played in the NFL: Dan, Rob, and Chris.[8] Gronkowski is the great-grandson of Ignatius Gronkowski, who represented the United States in cycling at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, and who held five world records in that sport.

Gronkowski and his four brothers co-own Gronk Fitness, a fitness gear and lifestyle brand that partners with industry leaders like Life Fitness and Xtreme Monkey to outfit commercial and home gyms with fitness equipment.[20]

As of 2019, he resides in Texas.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Rodak, Mike (May 2, 2016). "Glenn Gronkowski, Eric Striker among Bills' undrafted free agents". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "Bills sign Glenn Gronkowski, brother of Pats tight end Rob". fox61.com. Associated Press. April 30, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  3. ^ Davis, Scott. "Rob Gronkowski talks becoming an advocate for CBD, fasting, changes to the NFL, and whether he feels the 'itch' to return to football". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019. So my brother started his own company (Chris), and my other brother works for him (Glenn).
  4. ^ "Glenn Gronkowski Kansas State Wildcats bio". Archived from the original on September 4, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  5. ^ "Glenn Gronkowski Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Glenn Gronkowski, Combine Results, RB - Kansas State". nflcombineresults.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "Glenn Gronkowski 2016 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Bills add FB Gronkowski, LB Striker; waive three". Covers.com. May 2, 2016. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  9. ^ Patra, Kevin (September 12, 2016). "Bills to cut Glenn Gronkowski; re-sign Jerome Felton". NFL.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  10. ^ "Patriots make a series of transactions". Patriots.com. October 1, 2016. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  11. ^ "Patriots make practice squad moves". Patriots.com. October 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Patriots sign Tyler Gaffney and Glenn Gronkowski to the practice squad". Patriots.com. October 17, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  13. ^ "Patriots make practice squad moves". Patriots.com. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  14. ^ "Patriots re-sign FB Glenn Gronkowski to the practice squad". Patriots.com. November 16, 2016. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  15. ^ "Patriots re-sign FB Glenn Gronkowski to practice squad; Release TE Kennard Backman from practice squad". Patriots.com. December 2, 2016. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  16. ^ "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  17. ^ "Patriots sign FB Glenn Gronkowski to a future contract". Patriots.com. February 14, 2017. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  18. ^ "Patriots reach 53-man limit". Patriots.com. September 2, 2017. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017.
  19. ^ Brown, Chris (April 30, 2016). "Williamsville native Glenn Gronkowski agrees to terms with Bills". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  20. ^ Rodio, Michael (June 14, 2018). "Gronkowskis Launch Fitness Gear Line". Men's Journal. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  21. ^ Davis, Scott. "Rob Gronkowski talks becoming an advocate for CBD, fasting, changes to the NFL, and whether he feels the 'itch' to return to football". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019. So my brother started his own company (Chris), and my other brother works for him (Glenn).
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