BREAKING: Joe Burrow Brings Gronk to Cincinnati A Game-Changing Move for the Bengals

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow once attempted to lure Rob Gronkowski out of retirement following the tight end’s departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. However, Gronkowski dismissed the overture, assuming it was a prank. The story came to light during *The Dudes on Dudes Podcast*, where Gronkowski shared his side of the surprising exchange.

You gotta go way back to when Malcolm Brown was drafted to the Patriots,” Gronk explained to co-host Julian Edelman. “I got a fake text back then, and ever since, I’ve been wary of random numbers. After I retired, people would still reach out trying to get me to play. Then I see Joe Burrow in the media saying nice things about me, and one day I get this text, ‘Yo, bro, it’s Joe Burrow. I’d love for you to come to the Bengals.’ I thought, ‘No way, I’m not falling for this.’ Turns out, it was actually Joe.

The two finally addressed the mix-up at Michael Rubin’s white party this past summer. Gronkowski recalled their meeting with a laugh I go up to him and say, ‘What up, Joe?’ Within seconds, he’s like, ‘Yo, you never answered me.’ And I’m like, ‘No way that was really you? My bad!’ It’s all because of Malcolm Brown, man.

While Burrow’s recruitment efforts don’t often make headlines, the Bengals’ quarterback has a clear vision for the kind of players he wants on the team. Speaking during a recent press conference, Burrow shared insights into his approach.

I think I’ve done a pretty good job of understanding who fits into our system and who works well with us,” Burrow said. “It’s less about recruiting and more about knowing the kind of guys we need.” Though the Gronk recruitment didn’t pan out, it’s clear Burrow’s influence extends far beyond the field.