Dan Gronkowski
Encyclopedia
Dan Gronkowski is an American football
tight end
for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Maryland
.
He has also played for the Denver Broncos
and the New England Patriots
.
, New York
to parents Gordon and Diane Gronkowski. His great-grandfather, Ignatius, was a member of the 1924 U.S. Olympic cycling team in Paris.
Dan Gronkowski attended Williamsville North High School
where he played football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. He was a two-year starting quarterback
and a one-year starting wide receiver
. As a sophomore in 2001, he set a then-school record with 539 receiving yards. During his senior year in 2003, he completed 122 of 207 passes for 1,407 yards and 16 touchdowns, all of which were school records. He was named the league offensive Most Valuable Player.
He was recruited by Maryland, Arizona, Purdue
, and Syracuse.
. In 2005, he saw action in five games and made two receptions for 37 yards, including a career-long 25-yard touchdown reception from Sam Hollenbach
. In 2006, he saw action in all 13 games including nine starts. He had two receptions for 11 yards. He received the George Boutselis Memorial Award for team's highest GPA. In 2007, Gronkowski played in 11 games including eight starts and caught seven passes for 66 yards. He received the team's C.P. "Lefty" McIntosh Award for public service.
In 2008, he played in all 13 games and started in 12. He caught 29 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, including one matching his career-long 25-yard reception in 2005. He also some action on special teams and returned two kicks for eight and four yards. He was named an honorable mention All-ACC
player.
He earned a degree in marketing
and was pursuing an MBA when he was drafted. He was also in the process to be nominated as a Rhodes Scholar
his final year at the University of Maryland.
. The NFL Draft Scout ranked him the 11th out of 96 tight end prospects and projected him as a fifth or sixth round selection.
in the 2009 NFL Draft
. On June 25, 2009 he signed a three-year $1.21 million deal, which includes a signing bonus of around $26,000. He was waived on September 5, 2009 and signed to the Lions' practice squad a day later.
Gronkowski was promoted to the active roster on December 1, 2009 after tight end Brandon Pettigrew
was placed on injured reserve
due to a knee injury. He caught his first pass against the Baltimore Ravens
on December 13. He was waived on December 17, and re-signed to Lions' practice squad on December 20.
After his practice squad contract expired, Gronkowski was signed to a future reserve contract on January 5, 2010.
on September 4, 2010 for cornerback
Alphonso Smith
. He was released on September 3, 2011.
on September 6, 2011. However, after playing in two games, he was waived on September 23. He re-signed with the team on October 10.http://bleacherbumsports.net/2011/10/10/reunited-and-it-feels-so-good/. On November 8th, 2011, Dan Gronkowski was released for a second time.
. Dan has four brothers, three of whom played college sports. Gordie Gronkowski, Jr. played baseball as a first baseman
at Jacksonville University
. Chris Gronkowski
received a scholarship from the University of Maryland and played there as a fullback
in 2005 and 2006 before transferring to Arizona
. Chris is now a fullback for the Indianapolis Colts
. His brother Rob Gronkowski
is a starting tight end for the New England Patriots
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
He has also played for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
Early years
Gronkowski was born in AmherstAmherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to parents Gordon and Diane Gronkowski. His great-grandfather, Ignatius, was a member of the 1924 U.S. Olympic cycling team in Paris.
Dan Gronkowski attended Williamsville North High School
Williamsville North High School
Williamsville North High School is a public high school in the Williamsville Central School District of Williamsville, New York. The school offers a comprehensive program with multi-level instruction in many academic areas. The school is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents. During...
where he played football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. He was a two-year starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and a one-year starting wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. As a sophomore in 2001, he set a then-school record with 539 receiving yards. During his senior year in 2003, he completed 122 of 207 passes for 1,407 yards and 16 touchdowns, all of which were school records. He was named the league offensive Most Valuable Player.
He was recruited by Maryland, Arizona, Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
, and Syracuse.
College career
Gronkowski sat out 2004 as a redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. In 2005, he saw action in five games and made two receptions for 37 yards, including a career-long 25-yard touchdown reception from Sam Hollenbach
Sam Hollenbach
Samuel Hollenbach is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
. In 2006, he saw action in all 13 games including nine starts. He had two receptions for 11 yards. He received the George Boutselis Memorial Award for team's highest GPA. In 2007, Gronkowski played in 11 games including eight starts and caught seven passes for 66 yards. He received the team's C.P. "Lefty" McIntosh Award for public service.
In 2008, he played in all 13 games and started in 12. He caught 29 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, including one matching his career-long 25-yard reception in 2005. He also some action on special teams and returned two kicks for eight and four yards. He was named an honorable mention All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
player.
He earned a degree in marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
and was pursuing an MBA when he was drafted. He was also in the process to be nominated as a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
his final year at the University of Maryland.
Pre-draft
Draft Countdown assessed him as the 21st-ranked tight end prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. The NFL Draft Scout ranked him the 11th out of 96 tight end prospects and projected him as a fifth or sixth round selection.
Detroit Lions
Gronkowski was drafted 255th overall (2nd to last) by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. On June 25, 2009 he signed a three-year $1.21 million deal, which includes a signing bonus of around $26,000. He was waived on September 5, 2009 and signed to the Lions' practice squad a day later.
Gronkowski was promoted to the active roster on December 1, 2009 after tight end Brandon Pettigrew
Brandon Pettigrew
Brandon Pettigrew is an American football tight end for the Detroit Lions. He was drafted by the Lions with the 20th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.-High school:Brandon Pettigrew played high school football at Robert E...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
due to a knee injury. He caught his first pass against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
on December 13. He was waived on December 17, and re-signed to Lions' practice squad on December 20.
After his practice squad contract expired, Gronkowski was signed to a future reserve contract on January 5, 2010.
Denver Broncos
He was traded to the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 4, 2010 for cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Alphonso Smith
Alphonso Smith
Alphonso Smith, Jr. is a professional football cornerback for the Detroit Lions. Smith played college football at Wake Forest...
. He was released on September 3, 2011.
New England Patriots
Gronkowski signed with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on September 6, 2011. However, after playing in two games, he was waived on September 23. He re-signed with the team on October 10.http://bleacherbumsports.net/2011/10/10/reunited-and-it-feels-so-good/. On November 8th, 2011, Dan Gronkowski was released for a second time.
Personal
His father, Gordon Gronkowski, started for three years as an offensive guard at SyracuseSyracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
. Dan has four brothers, three of whom played college sports. Gordie Gronkowski, Jr. played baseball as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
at Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
. Chris Gronkowski
Chris Gronkowski
Chris Gronkowski is an American football fullback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Arizona.-Early years:...
received a scholarship from the University of Maryland and played there as a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
in 2005 and 2006 before transferring to Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
. Chris is now a fullback for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. His brother Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
is a starting tight end for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.