It's been five years since Rob Gronkowski played his last down in the NFL and while his longtime friend Tom Brady still looks like he can sling the ball downfield at 48, Gronkowski isn't quite as well-conditioned and his body paid the price.
During today's game between Tom Brady's Founders FFC team and the U.S. men's national team, Gronkowski caught multiple passes from Brady on the opening drive, which culminated in a touchdown for them. Gronkowski then caught the ball on a two-point conversion, only to pull his hamstring while getting up off the ground.
Some time later, Gronkowski revealed the extent of his injury to FOX Sports and announced that he was done for the day.
You can see in the video that Gronkowski fell awkwardly and was moving gingerly towards the sideline.
That injury could have a ripple effect that goes well beyond today's game or even this tournament.
The injury to Gronkowski - retired though he may be - is a reminder to NFL players and especially the teams they play for that there is a serious injury risk to letting them play competitive football of any kind outside of the normal league schedule. And with flag football becoming an Olympic sport in 2028, it could become less appealing for them.
NFL players had to basically fight tooth and nail to get permission from the league for even a few of them to join Team USA's qualifying pool. Though even that doesn't seem to be working.
Nov 13, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Rob Gronkowski celebrates after the game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images © David Butler II-Imagn Images
A different game
Regular flag football players, particularly Team USA starting QB Darrell Doucette, have argued that they deserve just as much a chance to represent their country in the sport's Olympic debut as NFL players because the game is different from tackle football. Comments like that have largely been laughed off by fans who declared that NFL players would run circles around flag football players.
But through two games with bonafide NFL superstars on opposing rosters, that has simply not been the case.
First Team USA destroyed Wildcats FFC 39-14 - a team QB'd by Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels and coached by Kyle Shanahan.
Then, Team USA started putting a beatdown on Brady's Founders FFC team, which has Brady and former Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts leading the way, racing out to a 43-16 lead.
Simply put, Team USA is taking it very seriously and the difference is clear.
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