Buccaneers' Rob Gronkowski Shocks Nurse With Super Bowl Tickets

TAMPA, FLA — Mandy Mueske was told she was headed into a human resources training session when she recently walked into a conference room at Moffitt Cancer Center with several of her nursing colleagues.

But after settling into her seat, she was shocked when Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski showed up on the video screen.

“Oh, hello, Mandy,” Gronkowski said in the video, wearing an NFC Champions cap.

In his best pirate voice, the gregarious Gronkowski said that while he knows it has been a rough year for everyone, he has heard that Mueske has been “a good lady” who has helped many patients since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

As Mueske giggles in delight as the Super Bowl champion and former Pro Bowler continues, Gronkowski was leading up to an even bigger surprise.

“I also hear you’re a big, big Bucs fan,” Gronkowski said. “Let me tell you – that’s good to know because guess what – you’re going to Super Bowl XV.”

Mueske will be among the 7,500 vaccinated health care workers that will be guests of the NFL for Sunday’s Super Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The NFL announced that while attendance at Sunday's championship tilt between the hometown Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs will be limited, those who have served on the front lines of the pandemic will be honored.

Gronkowski, who is in his first year with the Buccaneers, has been featured in several videos surprising workers with tickets.

“From everyone at the Bucs, we sincerely thank you for your amazing sacrifices and service,” Gronkowski said in the video.

Surrounded by the four colleagues who nominated her to be among the free ticket recipients, Mueske cannot contain herself in the video and says that she has never been to a Buccaneers game, but that it has always been on her bucket list.

“The first time I’m going and it’s the Super Bowl,” she said in the video. “I’m so excited.”