Rob Gronkowski

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was among the most popular players in the franchise, thanks to his happy-go-lucky, hard-partying persona and his record of 69 touchdowns in six seasons, which placed him in the National Football League (NFL) history books. Born Robert Paxton Gronkowski in Amherst, New York on May 14, 1989, he was the second youngest of five brothers, all of whom pursued amateur or professional careers in football or baseball. He showed exceptional promise as a high school athlete at Willamsville North High School, near Buffalo, New York; there, he earned 36 receptions for 648 yards and seven touchdowns, which won him a spot on the All-State second team. When the family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2006, Gronkowski continued to prove himself on the field, where he recorded eight receptions for 152 yards and four touchdowns in his senior year alone. His war chest of superlatives, including SuperPrep All-American and Associated Press Class 4-A All-State, attracted the attention of recruiters from numerous state colleges. Gronkowski attended the University of Arizona, where he played for the Wildcats from 2007 to 2009; in his freshman year, he earned 28 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns, which led to freshman All-American status from The Sporting News, among other laurels. He was twice named John Mackey National Tight End of the week in 2008 for recording 47 receptions for 672 yards and a team-best ten touchdowns, and made the watchlist for the Lombardi Award in 2009, though the year was cut short by back surgery. Though the injury hampered his draft standing, Gronkowski was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and signed a four-year contract with the franchise. He immediately established himself by becoming the youngest rookie in NFL history to catch three touchdown passes in a single game. Gronkowski closed his first year with the Patriots with 42 passes caught for 546 yards and