NFL legend Rob Gronkowski is officially returning to the New England Patriots — for one day — so he can retire with the team where his iconic career began. The former tight end, widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever play his position, will sign a ceremonial one-day contract on Nov. 12 to “retire as a Patriot for life.”

The emotional tribute comes shortly after the death of Susan Hurley, a beloved philanthropist and close friend of Gronkowski’s, who passed away earlier this month after a battle with ovarian cancer. One of her final wishes was to see Gronkowski officially end his career as a member of the Patriots.

Rob Gronkowski Confirms He Will Retire as a Patriot

The Patriots announced the news on Monday, Nov. 10, and Gronkowski, 36, later confirmed it during Fox Sports coverage over the weekend.

“I am signing a one-day contract with the Patriots this week coming up to retire as a Patriot and be a Patriot for life,” he said.

The ceremonial contract will reunite Gronkowski with the franchise he helped lead to three Super Bowl victories during his tenure from 2010 to 2018.

A Promise Made for a Friend: Honoring Susan Hurley

According to ESPN, the idea for the one-day contract came from Susan Hurley, a prominent New England philanthropist known for her decades of charity work, especially supporting Boston Marathon fundraising teams. Hurley died on Nov. 1 at age 62 after battling ovarian cancer.

Gronkowski and Hurley developed a strong partnership through community initiatives, and she played a major role in supporting the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation. Earlier this year, Gronkowski donated $1.8 million to build a new playground in Boston — a project Hurley helped inspire.

During the playground’s dedication in August, Hurley turned to him and said,
“Can we just make it official and sign him for a day so he can retire as a Patriot?”

Patriots owner Robert Kraft had already planned to offer Gronk a one-day contract as part of his eligibility for the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2026, but he fully embraced Hurley’s request.

“I like that a lot, and the reason that we’re really going to do that is because of Susan Hurley,” Kraft told ESPN.

Gronkowski Reflects on Hurley’s Legacy

Following Hurley’s passing, Gronkowski shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, honoring her unwavering kindness and lifelong dedication to helping others.

“She became a good friend of ours and supported our foundation more than words can express,” he wrote. “Susan took care of so many charity teams… She always did it out of love — her love of the game, her love of people, her love for helping others, and her love for the kids.”

He also remembered her strength and positivity throughout her cancer battle:
“She always had a smile on her face… Her strength and resilience were truly inspirational.”

Celebrating a Historic Patriots Career

Gronkowski spent nine seasons with the Patriots after being drafted in 2010. During that time, he earned:

• 3 Super Bowl championships
• 5 Pro Bowl selections
• 4 First-Team All-Pro honors
• A spot on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

After briefly retiring in 2019, he returned to the NFL to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers alongside Tom Brady, winning another Super Bowl in the 2020 season before retiring again.

Now, signing the one-day contract allows Gronkowski to make his bond with New England permanent — fulfilling not only his own wish but also honoring the legacy of the friend who asked to see him retire as a Patriot.