The Day Rob Gronkowski Refused to Be Traded to the Lions

Published on November 12th, 2025 10:34 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


In 2018, the New England Patriots nearly traded Rob Gronkowski to the Detroit Lions. The framework of the deal reportedly included Detroit's first-round draft pick and additional mid-round selections. The move would have reunited Gronkowski with former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, then in his first season as Lions head coach.

Gronkowski had no interest in playing anywhere but New England. When informed of the trade discussions, he told Patriots management that he would retire immediately rather than report to Detroit. According to multiple reports, he refused to take calls from Lions executives and insisted that Tom Brady was the only quarterback he wanted to play with.

The Patriots halted the trade. Bill Belichick later acknowledged the talks had taken place but offered no details on the proposed compensation. Gronkowski remained with the team for the 2018 season, catching 47 passes for 682 yards and three touchdowns. His final catch as a Patriot was a 29-yard reception that set up the game's only touchdown in New England's 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

Following that victory, Gronkowski officially retired in March 2019. The Patriots eventually traded his rights a year later to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick after he decided to reunite with Brady in Florida.

By leveraging retirement, Gronkowski maintained control of his career - avoiding a move to a rebuilding franchise and securing one more championship before walking away. It remains one of the most unusual examples of a player using retirement as a negotiating tactic to stop a trade in modern NFL history.