Patriots' Rob Gronkowski Retires

FOXBOROUGH, MA — New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL. The often dominant, sometimes injured, always entertaining "Gronk," announced the decision Sunday on Instagram.

Gronkowski wrote in his retirement message: "It all started at 20 years old on stage at the NFL draft when my dream came true, and now here I am about to turn 30 in a few months with a decision I feel is the biggest of my life so far. I will be retiring from the game of football today."

He thanked owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick for the opportunity and said his experiences both on and off the field have been "amazing."

"The people I have met, the relationships I have built, the championships I have been a part of, I just want to thank the whole New England Patriots organization for every opportunity I have been [given] and learning the great values of life that I can apply to mine...Thank you to all of Pats Nation around the world for the incredible support since I have been apart of this 1st class organization," Gronkowski wrote.

Quarterback Tom Brady referred to his longtime pal and endzone target with a goat emoji in an Instagram post, a reference to the "greatest of all time."

"Love u man," Brady wrote. He added: "Couldn't be a better person or teammate."

At just 29, Gronkowski enjoyed one of the league's most prolific careers by a tight end. He finished with 521 catches for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns, including a league-high 17 in 2011. He was a four-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.

A two-time Super Bowl champion, his playoff record included 81 catches for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 games.

Gronkowski's numbers would have been higher if not for his battles with numerous injuries. He played in 116 of a possible 144 games. The games he missed were equal to nearly two full seasons.

It was those injuries that made him available to New England in the third round of the 2010 draft. Gronkowski missed the entire 2009 college season with Arizona with a back injury before being drafted, then suffered serious back, knee and forearm injuries throughout his time with New England. He suffered at least two concussions.

Here's his full statement posted on Instagram:

• It all started at 20 years old on stage at the NFL draft when my dream came true, and now here I am about to turn 30 in a few months with a decision I feel is the biggest of my life so far. I will be retiring from the game of football today. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick gave to me when drafting my silliness in 2010. My life experiences over the last 9 years have been amazing both on and off the field. The people I have meet, the relationships I have built, the championships I have been apart of, I just want to thank the whole New England Patriots organization for every opportunity I have been giving and learning the great values of life that I can apply to mine. Thank you to all of Pats Nation around the world for the incredible support since I have been apart of this 1st class organization. Thank you for everyone accepting who I am and the dedication I have put into my work to be the best player I could be. But now its time to move forward and move forward with a big smile knowing that the New England Patriots Organization, Pats Nation, and all my fans will be truly a big part of my heart for rest of my life. It was truly an incredible honor to play for such a great established organization and able to come in to continue and contribute to keep building success. To all my current and past teammates, thank you for making each team every year special to be apart of. I will truly miss you guys. Cheers to all who have been part of this journey, cheers to the past for the incredible memories, and a HUGE cheers to the uncertain of whats next