NFL Players React To News That Tom Brady May Not Retire: ‘Very Shocked’

Rob Gronkowski, 33, said he was surprised by the recent rumors that his friend and former teammate, Tom Brady, 45, might be considering a second un-retirement. The retired NFL tight end believes his retirement will stick this time around.

READ MORE: Tom Brady Just Issued A Career Announcement Amid Retirement Questions

While speaking with Boston.com, Gronkowski commented on the rumor that Brady may come out of retirement again. He said, “That was a surprise when I saw that news. It actually put me on my toes. I was very shocked when I saw that.”

He added, “I feel like Tom is definitely totally done playing.” Gronkowski then clarified that he hasn’t spoken directly to Brady about the decision and that these are just his observations, “I haven’t talked to him or anything about it. I’m not speaking for Tom.”

Gronkowski does believe that Brady’s second retirement announcement was genuinely his goodbye to football. “Just from everything I saw from his retirement video and everything I just feel like he is just done playing football. It was just very shocking though when I heard that news the other day,” he expressed to the outlet.

Rumors about Brady’s retirement from and return to football have been swarming around for months. And, after NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen told fans that he thinks the quarterback was returning to the NFL with Miami as a possible destination, rumors started spreading again.

However, Brady quickly put a stop to that theory when he tweeted that he doesn’t have the time to return to football. “Anyone who thinks I have time to come back to the NFL has never adopted a [2-month-old] kitten for their daughter,” he quipped.

Brady infamously announced his first retirement at the start of 2022, before reversing the decision just two months later. He then announced his second retirement this February. The former Quarterback told fans that this time it was “for good” in a heartfelt video message he shared on Instagram. “I’m retiring. For good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning I figured I’d just press record, and let you guys know first,” Brady said.

“It won’t be long-winded, you only get one super-emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so. I…really thank you guys…so much,” he continues, while choking up, “to every single one of you, for supporting me, my family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There are too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”

Brady’s tumultuous retirement journey also allegedly caused his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen, 42. Now, Bündchen is reportedly dating her personal trainer while Brady was rumored to be dating a 26-year-old model.