Rob Gronkowski Expected To Return For 2018 Season: Report

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Following weeks of speculation, the will he? won't he? saga that is the prospect of Rob Gronkowski's retirement may be over, for now.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that Gronkowski is expected to be back with the New England Patriots for the 2018 season. There may not be an official announcement declaring his decision, but, he said, other opportunities like the World Wrestling Entertainment and Hollywood acting have taken to the back burner.

The news comes following a few weeks off and away from football, according to Rapoport.

"The belief now is those things will come after his football career. The belief now is Gronkowski will continue his career with the Patriots," Rapoport said on the NFL Network Wednesday. "Right now I have not talked to one person who believes that Gronkowski will retire. The expectation is that he's back in a Patriots uniform in 2018."

The retirement talk began the day of the Super Bowl when ProFootballTalk tweeted, "This is 99-percent wild guess but it would not shock me at all if Gronk retires after tonight's game."

After the game, Gronk was asked about the prospect of retiring. He told reporters he was going to take a few weeks to think about his future. The rumors only intensified after reports surfaced that Gronkowski wanted to be a movie star and that the WWE is willing to extend an offer to him if he leaves football.

Grokowski's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he had nothing to add.

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