Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski will be reunited in Tampa Bay. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Twitter reacts to Rob Gronkowski joining Tom Brady with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/21/20

On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jay Glazer of Fox Sports confirmed that future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski had ended his football retirement and orchestrated a trade from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he will join former teammate and six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady.

Gronk, who is currently the World Wrestling Entertainment 24/7 Champion, retired from the NFL after the 2018 campaign and did not play for any team in 2019. Brady signed with the Bucs in free agency earlier this offseason.

Schefter explained that the Buccaneers were the only team Gronkowski wanted to play for in 2020. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network added the 30-year-old tight end recently began preparing his body for an NFL return:

Tampa Bay was the only place that Rob Gronkowski wanted it was willing to play, per league source. So if Gronkowski passes his physical, he will get his wish.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020

#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has, in fact, begin putting on weight for a return to football, sources say. He’s ready. He wants to return. And Tom Brady wants him back for the #Bucs, too.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020

As one might expect, NFL Twitter entered full "Gronk Party Cruise" mode upon learning of the shocking and unforeseen trade:

TB12 + Gronk = ‍☠️

Bucs down to 14-1 to win the Super Bowl... pic.twitter.com/3LeVEG6Skg
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) April 21, 2020

Us when we saw @AdamSchefter's tweet. pic.twitter.com/dd9b5D9tA1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 21, 2020

Gronk coming out of retirement to play with Brady and the Bucs pic.twitter.com/InJLO1Et3Y
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 21, 2020

Brady and Gronk in Tampa Bay ‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/dvHmOKZbDL
— Dylan C (@DylansRawTake) April 21, 2020

Brady to Gronk right now ... pic.twitter.com/X0HQhjYTem
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) April 21, 2020

Gronk has already won a championship in the state of Florida pic.twitter.com/Dzq4Uzkj4H
— SI Wrestling (@SI_wrestling) April 21, 2020

Bucs opened up with 65-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. They are now at 16-1. 5th best in the NFL. https://t.co/EuRQuc8zbV
— Seth Kaplan (@Seth_Kaplan) April 21, 2020

When everyone is making fun of the Patriots but you just traded a retired player for a 4th round pick pic.twitter.com/5ifKAm8hFy
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) April 21, 2020

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD @TomBrady @RobGronkowski @Buccaneers

(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/aaFntenFqu
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) April 21, 2020

Despite Gronkowski's lengthy absence from the league, observers shouldn't be shocked he'd want to reunite with Brady for one last run. As Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston wrote, Gronk rejected a trade to the Detroit Lions before the start of the 2018 season because he wished to play alongside only his favorite signal-caller.

"It happened," Gronk said when confirming reports of the potential trade in Septmeber 2018. "Brady's my quarterback. I'm not going anywhere without Brady."

Since Gronkowski and Brady are set to again be joined at the hip, we hope to see Brady accompany his once-again teammate to the ring for a WWE title defense at a future show. After all, somebody has to beat the champ to become the new champ.

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