Rob Gronkowski was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame, learning the news via a voicemail from owner Robert Kraft. He expressed his emotional reaction to the prestigious honor.
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Sitting on his brand-new pontoon boat in Florida on Wednesday, April 29, New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski wore a big smile.
The reason for that: the Florida weather AND... he was just inducted into the team's Hall of Fame!
When speaking with local media, Gronkowski revealed that he learned of the news on Tuesday night, having received a voicemail from Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
"It was through a voicemail from RKK, one of the greatest owners in all of sports, that what he's done for the Patriots franchise is just indescribable," Gronkowski said. "I listened to it at about 10:30 p.m. last night, and I started tearing up a bit. I mean, it's such a prestigious honor to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, especially as a first ballot.
"When I listened to the voicemail last night, it was a very special one, and I'm going to keep the voicemail forever, he added. "It's one of the only few voicemails I'll keep for the rest of my life."
Gronkowski is one of the Patriots' most decorated athletes in team history, becoming the 38th inductee to the team's Hall of Fame. A second-round draft pick in 2010, Gronkowski won nine AFC East Division Championships, five AFC Championships, and Three Super Bowls during his iconic career.
"I learned so much with the game of football, but especially in the New England era that I was in, it was all about the team," Gronkowski reflected. "It was all about doing your best. It was all about being reliable and having the trust within your teammates and gaining their trust as well."
"Now I can apply what I learned in life through the game of football and the through the organization of the New England Patriots, and that's give back to the community," he added. "But at the same time, it's also how to do your job at such a high level and be a reliable teammate in this world."
The tight end also took a moment to show appreciation for his fellow nominees, kicker Adam Vinatieri and OL .
Rob Gronkowski learned about his Hall of Fame induction through a voicemail from Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Rob Gronkowski was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame on April 29.
Gronkowski described the honor as prestigious and mentioned that he started tearing up upon hearing the news.
Robert Kraft is the owner of the New England Patriots and is recognized for his significant contributions to the franchise.
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"Those are two players that I looked up to," Gronkowski said. "Logan Mankins, I looked up to him when I got into the Patriots organization. He's such a badass player. He's just so brutally strong. He could just take his opponents on the defensive line and just toss them and move them in the trenches, whatever way he needed to. He's just a guy who is deserving to be in the Patriots Hall of Fame."
"Also with Adam Vinatieri, he's just deserving as well," he added. "He's in the Football Hall of Fame right now, but he will be in the Patriots Hall of Fame. And just what he has done for the Patriots organization as well... I wish I could have really played with him at one time."However, ultimately it was Gronkowski who the fans selected, and this honor is not one that he takes lightly.
"I wouldn't be here without my teammates," he said. "I wouldn't be here without my coaches. I wouldn't be here without the fans. I wouldn't be here without the Patriots organization taking me and risking that draft pick in 2010 in the second round.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Rob Gronkowski details moment he learned of Hall of Fame honor