Gronkowski explains missed 'Kick of Destiny' during SB LVII

Former NFL player Rob Gronkowski Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Rob Gronkowski explains missed 'Kick of Destiny' during Super Bowl LVII

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Feb 15, 2023 10:02 AM ET

Retired tight end Rob Gronkowski is blaming the elements for his missed "Kick of Destiny" during the third quarter of Super Bowl LVII.

"I felt the confidence that it was going through no matter what and then I looked up and it was soaring and then all of a sudden I swear, a wind gust came up there," Gronkowski explained during Monday's edition of the FanDuel TV "Up & Adams" program, as shared by Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Post. He added that "Mother Nature just sent this powerful wind when the ball was about to go right through the uprights" which caused his attempt to hook wide of the mark.

It was learned last month that Gronkowski would be attempting a 25-yard field goal live during Super Bowl LVII to conclude FanDuel's "Kick of Destiny" campaign that offered users a share of $10 million in free bets if the four-time Super Bowl champion successfully converted the kick. While Gronkowski missed and blamed the wind on Sunday night, FanDuel vowed to still give away $10 million in free bonus bets:

.@RobGronkowski may have missed the #KickOfDestiny....

BUT YOU STILL WIN: we’re still paying out the $10,000,000 in Bonus Bets! pic.twitter.com/6z4b0EdNNI
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 13, 2023

pic.twitter.com/19zj6mz0VN
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) February 13, 2023

Gronkowski retired from playing in the NFL for the second time in June 2022 and declared ahead of Super Bowl LVII that he's "done" despite the existence of rumors that linked the 33-year-old and quarterback Tom Brady with the Las Vegas Raiders. Brady retired for a second time and "for good" on Feb. 1.

Gronkowski pledged during the "Up & Adams" segment that he will "have a redemption one day" so that he can "accomplish something for America." The next Super Bowl will occur roughly 12 months from Monday, so Adam Vinatieri presumably would have enough time to properly train Gronkowski for a second "Kick of Destiny" attempted in February 2024:

Gronkowski told FanDuel's Kay Adams he went "five-for-five" with his field goals on rehearsal day. He learned on Sunday that trying practice kicks isn't the same as attempting to place the ball between the uprights while facing the pressure of knowing the entire world is watching.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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