Another NFL season has come and gone, leaving Florida sports betting fans to ponder the odds of whether one of the league’s greatest tight ends will return for a 12th season, or join former teammate Tom Brady in retirement.
The player in question is four-time All-Pro Rob Gronkowski, who has hauled in 100 catches for more than 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns since returning from his first retirement in 2020.
The man lovingly referred to as “Gronk” finished 2021 with 55 receptions, 802 yards, and six touchdowns — with the first two representing his highest numbers since the 2017 NFL season when he had 1,084 yards on 69 catches.
The focus now shifts to whether Gronk will hang up his cleats for good and shuffle into whatever his second career holds or return in 2022.
Will Gronkowski Return to Tampa Without Tom?
Unfortunately for Bucs fans, one thing that appears unlikely for the year ahead is a return to Tampa Bay for Gronkowski.
Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has the Buccaneers as the third-leading team for Gronk’s services in 2022 at +800.
Thompson’s Gronk Big Board has retirement as the leader in the odds chase at -125, with Buffalo (+550) and Green Bay (+650) ahead of the Bucs. Arizona is next at +900.
Bookies.com Rob Gronkowski 2022 Team Odds
| ⭐️ Retired | -125 |
| ⭐️ Buffalo Bills | +550 | ⭐️ Green Bay Packers | +650 |
| ⭐️ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +800 | ⭐️ Arizona Cardinals | +900 |
| ⭐️ Los Angeles Chargers | +1500 | ⭐️ Miami Dolphins | +1800 |
| ⭐️ San Francisco 49ers | +2000 | ⭐️ The Field | +4000 |
EDITOR'S NOTE: The odds discussed above are from Bookies.com and may not be available for public betting.
It’s worth considering Gronkowski has never played in the NFL without No. 12, having last played sans Brady during his junior year at the University of Arizona — when Matt Scott was his QB.
Without Brady in the fold, the Buccaneers Super Bowl odds are listed at +2500 at BetMGM Sportsbook.
What Gronkowski Adds to Tampa Bay’s Offense
The prospect of Gronk returning to shepherd whichever quarterback leads Tampa Bay’s offense in 2022 is tantalizing for Bucs fans.
Gronkowski’s 802 receiving yards ranked third overall on the team behind WR’s Chris Godwin (1,103 yards) and Mike Evans (1,035 yards). His six touchdowns ranked second behind Evans (14).
At the moment, the person who will be throwing to Godwin, Evans and perhaps Gronkowski is unknown. Bookies.com lists current San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and current Buccaneers backup Kyle Trask as odds on favorites to be Tampa Bay’s 2022 Week 1 starter.
Gronkowski showed he still has some gas left in the tank during the 2021 regular season, giving teams on the verge of Super Bowl contention (like the Bucs) reason to pursue the five-time Pro Bowler.
It’s unclear what Gronk’s intentions are for the year ahead, though we could see him teaming up with Brady’s heir apparent and company on the eastern shores of Tampa Bay in 2022.
