Buccaneers’ free-agent tight end Rob Gronkowski will turn to coaching...for a day

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski is a unique individual. To go along with all of his on-field NFL accomplishments, Gronk can also call himself a television analyst, WWE Champion, and...coach?

Well, he can’t call himself a coach yet, but when the Arizona Wildcats take the field for their 2021 Spring Game, Gronkowski will check one more item off his career aspiration bucket list.

This, according to Justin Spears on Tucson.com. Spears reports,

“...after recently winning his fourth Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after ending his one-year retirement, (Gronkowski) will coach against fellow ex-Wildcat — and New England Patriots legend — Tedy Bruschi, who joined the UA’s staff as a senior advisor to Fisch and the other coaches. It’s unknown if the UA’s spring game will be open for fans to attend.”

University of Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch revealed the news on a virtual conference call with Football Alumni, and the game is currently scheduled to take place on April 24th.

As a player, Gronkowski caught 75 passes for 1,197-yards and 16 touchdowns before moving the NFL and joining forces with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Bruschi and Gronk never played with the Patriots together, with the linebackers final season coming in 2008, the year before New England drafted the tight end.

Still, both men represent an extended high-point in Patriots history, and in doing so also give fans and alumni of the University of Arizona reasons to celebrate their playing careers.

While the coaching experience may be a solid one for Gronkowski, I don’t think Buccaneers fans have much to worry about as the coaching ranks aren’t likely to draw the tight end away from wanting to play another season with Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.