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Rob Gronkowski Sends Strong Message About Travis Kelce on Monday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dean Koutouratsas | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 1:31 PM ET

After playing 11 seasons in the NFL, former Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski shared his thoughts on Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Kelce, 35, is heading into his 13th season in the league, which may be his last considering he has been playing since 2013. Gronkowski believes Kelce’s primary goal will be to help his team win games this year.

“He wants to win football games and another championship before he retires,” Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl champ, said during Monday’s episode of “The Dan Patrick Show.” “After watching him last year in the Super Bowl, he wants to go out there and prove to everyone that he still has a lot left in the tank.

“Which I believe he will do because I don’t think he would have come back to football this year.”

Kelce played in his fifth Super Bowl last year but only recorded four receptions for 39 yards and zero touchdowns. He was considering whether or not to retire during the offseason after only recording 823 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Dan Patrick, the show host, noted that Kelce will have to rely heavily on his football knowledge over his speed at this point in his career. Gronkowski agreed because he went through a similar situation in the final stretch of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“It’s knowing the game and the defenses,” the former New England Patriot added. “It’s knowing how to get through coverage. Yeah, I didn’t have the speed to burn past guys, but I was still contributing by blocking and finding space in the zone.”

Gronkowski noted that Kelce is a knowledgeable player and has good chemistry with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Overall I would say his smarts of the game is what keeps him around at 80 plus catches,” he concluded.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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