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10 Things You Need To Know About Rob Gronkowski Heading Into Super Bowl XLIX

10 Things You Need To Know About Gronk Heading Into Super Bowl XLIX

Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Spike Indianapolis Colts
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The most interesting man in Super Bowl XLIX could easily be the most talented as well. Here are 10 things you need to know about the Gronk so you can enjoy America’s biggest event and the NFL’s most charismatic character even more.

10. He Has An Affinity For Kittens

Rob Gronkowski Julian Edelman New England Patriots AFC Championship
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

10. He Has An Affinity For Kittens

Rob Gronkowski Julian Edelman New England Patriots AFC Championship
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

In an attempt to obliterate the Internet, Rob Gronkowski did a photo shoot with ESPN the magazine in which he posed semi-naughty with super fluffy kittens. Although one photo shows him wearing a leopard print hat/scarf combo while holding a live cat, it still didn’t divert from how odd this entire photo shoot truly was.

9. He Broke NFL Receiving Records In Just His Second Season

Gronk Endzone New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

9. He Broke NFL Receiving Records In Just His Second Season

Gronk Endzone New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Gronk burst onto the scene in a hurry, breaking the NFL record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with 17. If it weren’t for a shovel pass ruled as a lateral pitch, he’d have pushed the receiving touchdown record to 18. This of course resulted in another record: most touchdowns by a tight end in a season.

8. Gronk Currently Holds Nine NFL Records

Gronk Spike Gronk Smash New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

8. Gronk Currently Holds Nine NFL Records

Gronk Spike Gronk Smash New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL already honors Gronk’s precocious talent in their record books. Among the nine he’s shattered are most receiving yards by a tight end in a season and within first two seasons, most offensive touchdowns in first two seasons and most consecutive seasons with 10-plus touchdowns by a tight end. Gronk smashes everything.

7. Gronk’s Great-Grandfather Was A U.S. Olympian

Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots After Touchdown
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

7. Gronk’s Great-Grandfather Was A U.S. Olympian

Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots After Touchdown
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Before Gronk spiked his way into the shared universes of sports and pop culture, there was another Gronkowski making some noise. His name was Ignatius Gronkowski, and he was an American professional cyclist who represented the U.S. at the 1924 Summer Olympics. He also has a Wikipedia page.

6. In The 2011 Playoffs, He Out-Tebowed Tebow

Tim Tebow scrambling Denver Broncos Quarterback
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

6. In The 2011 Playoffs, He Out-Tebowed Tebow

Tim Tebow scrambling Denver Broncos Quarterback
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe not spiritually, but statistically, Gronk out-Tebowed Tim Tebow by catching more passes than Tebow completed (10 vs. 9) in New England’s 45-10 beatdown of the Denver Broncos during the Divisional round of the 2011 playoffs.

5. Gronkowski Has Had Three Forearm Surgeries

Rob Gronkowski Gronk New England Patriots flexing
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

5. Gronkowski Has Had Three Forearm Surgeries

Rob Gronkowski Gronk New England Patriots flexing
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the Gronk is bionic. In 2013, he underwent yet another forearm surgery to clear up an infection. It is his third to date, and judging by the gridiron beast that’s revived, it’s his most successful.

4. He Became The Protagonist Of An Erotic Novel

Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Gronk vs. Green Bay Packers
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

4. He Became The Protagonist Of An Erotic Novel

Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Gronk vs. Green Bay Packers
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

In December, the literary contribution titled “A Gronking To Remember” went viral. This novel by Lacey Noonan dives into explicit detail of fictional encounters with Rob Gronkowski and is actually listed on amazon.com.

3. Gronk Owns A Party Bus

Rob Gronkowski Gronk Touchdown New England Patriots
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

3. Gronk Owns A Party Bus

Rob Gronkowski Gronk Touchdown New England Patriots
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The “Sinners Bus” is a No. 87 customized party ride owned by No. 87 of the Patriots, Rob Gronkowski. Per Sports Illustrated, the bus seats eight and has a state of the art sound system. But yeah, of course Gronk would own a party bus.

2. Gronkowski Is A Party Animal

Rob Gronkowski Gronk New England Patriots
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

2. Gronkowski Is A Party Animal

Rob Gronkowski Gronk New England Patriots
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Just Google “Rob Gronkowski stories” and you’ll get a good whiff of what I’m talking about. Energetic, lovable and usually shirtless, Gronk is a genuine frat boy stallion behind the velvet rope.

1. Rob Gronkowski Is A Matchup Nightmare

Gronk New England Patriots Kansas City Chiefs
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

1. Rob Gronkowski Is A Matchup Nightmare

Gronk New England Patriots Kansas City Chiefs
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

He stands 6-foot-6 and runs a 4.68 forty. That is exactly the same recorded time as Johnny Manziel. However, Gronk is 56 pounds heavier. Now I’m no physicist, but I believe that added mass coupled with top-flight speed deems Rob Gronkowski a human steamroller.

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