There’s a New Gronk in Town, And He’s Better Than Ever

09.12.17

Posted by: Gronkowski

What’s one thing Gronk wishes he could tell his younger self? To treat his body right from day one, according to an article in Men’s Health.

It’s safe to say Gronk is good at his job. So good that some consider him to be ranked amongst the best tight ends in NFL history. His ability to maneuver his 6’6, 265-pound frame around the field makes him a force to be reckoned with.

His natural talent and lovable personality have lent to his all-star career. But his time in the NFL hasn’t been all Gronk Spikes and happiness. Two back surgeries, ankle surgery, forearm surgeries and knee surgery have all been part of the journey.

So what’s a Gronk who’s looking forward to many more years in the NFL do? Ditch some habits of his early twenties and adopt some new, more restorative, ones.

“When I was 21 and starting off in the league, I’d finish a game, then call up my buddies, not put a lot of time into recovery at all,” he said in an interview with Men’s Health. “When you’re young, you feel like you don’t have to put in that extra work.”

In the beginning years of his career, Gronk seemed unstoppable. But the injuries slowly began to take their toll.

“Everyone wishes they could go back in time and give their younger selves some advice,” he said to Men’s Health. “I would tell myself how important it is to treat your body right from the beginning.”

With multiple injuries under his belt, this is one lesson Gronk learned the hard way.

“I wish I had started my recovery process earlier,” he told Men’s Health. “That’s the biggest change I’ve made. It’s a real full-time job now… I want to keep playing football for as long as I can.”

He’s not kidding when he says it’s a full-time job now — Gronk spends a few hours a day on the recovery process alone, as said in the Men’s Health article. Stretching, massage therapy, and ice and salt baths are all part of the routine now. Habits that weren’t even on the radar in his early twenties.

He’s been focusing on improving his eating habits as well, taking a few pointers from teammate Tom Brady. While he’s not fully on Brady’s level, he says he’s eating more whole foods and eliminating ‘cheat meals’ from his diet.

His hard work is paying off. “Everyone says I look skinnier, but I weigh the same. I feel fit and lean,” Gronk says, according to Men’s Health.

Gronk’s hard work and dedication are testaments to the kind of teammate and athlete he is. We can’t wait to see what he brings to the field this season, it’ll be nothing short of Gronk-tastic.

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