Rob Gronkowski celebrated the opening of "Gronk Playground" in Boston on Tuesday.
Rob Gronkowski celebrated the opening of "Gronk Playground" in Boston on Tuesday.David L Ryan/ Globe Staff
Just a few weeks after Tom Brady was immortalized at Gillette Stadium with a statue, another Patriots legend might be readying himself for a celebration in Foxborough.
Speaking to reporters at the unveiling of the “Gronk Playground” on the Esplanade this week, former New England tight end Rob Gronkowski said he has plans to sign a one-day contract so he can officially retire as a member of the Patriots.
“Come back for a day, a weekend, whatever it is. So we’ll make it happen, and it’ll be a really, really cool moment,” Gronkowski said. “It’s going to happen. We just don’t know when.”
Gronkowski credited Susan Hurley — the founder and president of CharityTeams who helped secure the funding for the “Gronk Playground” — as the catalyst for securing that one-day contract.
According to Gronkowski, Hurley approached Patriots owner Robert Kraft about the idea of Gronkowski officially retiring as a player in New England, where he spent the first nine seasons of his career and won three Super Bowl titles.
“I like that a lot,” Gronkowski said. “The reason why we’re really going to do that is because of Susan Hurley. She wants to see that happen. She’s been dreaming about that happening for a while. [Kraft] gave her a thumbs-up. So we’re gonna make it happen in the future, and it’s gonna be a special moment.”
Even though Gronkowski closed out his career with two seasons in Tampa Bay — where he won another Super Bowl title alongside Brady — he continues to hold close ties to New England.
Gronkowski became emotional when discussing what the Patriots and this market has meant to him.
“Excuse me, you still have me moved,” Gronkowski said while fighting back some tears.
“I thought of the idea to give back to the Boston area for all the love and support the [region] of New England fans have shown me throughout my career,” Gronkowski added. “It was since day one. Even if I was acting like an idiot, they loved it. You guys loved it,” he said. “So thank you so much. It helped me perform, tremendously.”
Former Patriots tight end officially opens his playground as a way of giving back to New England. The celebration included duck boat rides and Gronk spikes. (Video by Danielle DuBois/Globe Staff, Photo by David Ryan/Globe Staff)
Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com.