How Many Gronkowski Brothers Play in the NFL?

The Gronkowski brothers are a football family. All six brothers have played the sport at some level, but only three have made it to the NFL. Here’s a look at how many Gronkowski brothers play in the NFL.

The Gronkowski Family

Rob Gronkowski, the famous tight end for the New England Patriots, is one of five brothers. All five brothers have played football at some level, with four of them playing in the NFL. Chris, the oldest Gronkowski brother, is the only one who never played in the NFL. Rob Gronkowski’s three younger brothers – Dan, Glenn, and Gordie – all played in the NFL.

The Parents

The Gronkowski parents are originally from Western New York. They grew up near each other and attended the same high school. The mother, Diane, was a cheerleader and the father, Gordon, was an athlete. They married young and had three sons: Gordie Jr., Chris and Rob. All three boys were born in Buffalo.

The Parents: Diane and Gordon Gronkowski
Diane is a housewife and Gordon is a former minor league football player. He now works as a foreman for an air conditioning company.

The Siblings

All seven Gronkowski brothers were born in Amherst, Massachusetts to Gordie and Diane Gronkowski. The oldest four brothers – Gordie Jr., Dan, Chris, and Glenn – all played football at Woodland High School in their hometown before going on to play college ball. Rob, the youngest of the seven, was a standout tight end at Arizona before he was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010.

Gordie Jr. played running back and defensive end at Syracuse University before being signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He was released by the Lions later that year and never played in an NFL game.

Dan played tight end at Maryland before being signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He was released by the Broncos later that year and never played in an NFL game.

Chris played offensive tackle at Clemson before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the Saints (2009-2012) before being released and signing with the New England Patriots, where he played one season (2013). He is currently a free agent.

Glenn played offensive tackle at Cincinnati before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the Buccaneers (2009-2012) before being released and signing with the New England Patriots, where he won two Super Bowls (XLVIII and LI). He is currently a free agent.

Rob is the only Gronkowski brother to play in a Super Bowl, winning three with the Patriots (XLIX, LI, LIII).

The NFL Brothers

The NFL has seen its share of brothers playing together on the same team. The Manning brothers were a dynamic duo for years, and now we’re seeing the Gronkowski brothers take the league by storm. So, how many Gronkowski brothers play in the NFL?

Rob Gronkowski

Robert James Gronkowski (born May 14, 1989), nicknamed “Gronk”, is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona, winning several awards, including being named a Sporting News and Rivals.com Freshman All-American. The Patriots drafted Gronkowski with the 42nd pick in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Since joining the Patriots, Gronkowski has set several NFL records. He became the only tight end in NFL history to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (17) in 2011. In 2014, he became the first tight end to have three consecutive seasons with 10+ touchdown receptions. In 2015, he became the first tight end to have 1,000+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdown receptions in a season since Jerry Smith in 1967.

Chris Gronkowski

Chris Gronkowski is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions.

Gronkowski played college football at Arizona.

The eldest Gronkowski brother, Chris was born on April 18, 1988, two years before Rob. Chris was a highly recruited full back coming out of high school, but he broke his ankle during his senior year and saw his stock drop. He still received interest from major universities, but he decided to play for the University of Arizona under then-coach Mike Stoops.

The Other Brothers

The New England Patriots have three Gronkowski brothers on the roster: Rob, Chris, and Dan. However, there are three other Gronkowski brothers who did not make it to the NFL. Glenn, Gordie, and Bill all had the potential to play football at a high level, but their careers were derailed by injuries.

Dan Gronkowski

The oldest of the Gronkowski brothers, Dan played Tight End for the Lions, Broncos, and Patriots, amassing 60 receptions for 624 yards and 10 touchdowns in his seven-year career. Dan Gronkowski was never as heralded as Rob, but he still managed to have a solid career in the NFL.

Glenn Gronkowski

Glenn Gronkowski is the only Gronkowski brother who did not play football at the University of Arizona. Instead, he played fullback for Kansas State University. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 2016 NFL Draft and is currently a member of their practice squad.

The Future

NFL fans are always looking for the next big thing. Who will be the next Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers? When it comes to the Gronkowski brothers, there may be more than one future NFL star in the family. All three brothers have shown they have what it takes to be a success in the NFL.

What Does the Future Hold?

Only time will tell what the future holds for the Gronkowski brothers. All six brothers are talented athletes, and it would not be surprising to see any of them have successful NFL careers. However, only time will tell if any of them can match the success of Rob Gronkowski, who is widely considered to be one of the best tight ends in NFL history.