FOXBOROUGH — Rob Gronkowski was back at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday to sign a one-day contract and officially retire as a member of the New England Patriots. But it wasn’t his first time back in Foxborough during the 2025 season.
Last month, Gronkowski was at Gillette Stadium and spoke with Drake Maye, and during that conversation, it was clear the young quarterback made an impact.
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“I did a sit-down interview with Drake Maye, which was special,” Gronkowski said. “And what I really loved about him is his IQ and his intelligence for the game of football. When we were just talking football, and I was asking him questions and the way he respected the guys that were before him too. Obviously, you’re coming after Tom Brady; you’re always going to be compared to Tom Brady.
“But the way he answered the questions showed his respect, but also knew that it’s his time and that he’s got to do what he’s got to do. You appreciate that type of answer, you appreciate that type of honesty and humbleness as well.”
And with that, it also allowed Gronkowski to reminisce about playing in Josh McDaniels’ offense. And it was another opportunity for Maye to impress the tight end, as Maye knew exactly what the play was even though McDaniels has changed the names over the years.
“The intelligence he had for the game of football. We were talking plays, and I was saying plays that the name of the play when I was there with McDaniels, and now the name has totally changed,” Gronkowski detailed. “And he not just knew my play, the play when it was named, our terminology of when it was my, my era, but he also knew the terminology that it was of his era too.
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“So, to know both and just know what I was doing on the play call that I said to him was just pretty impressive. So that’s when you know he has a high football IQ, and that’s what you need as a quarterback position.”
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Rob Gronkowski details what impressed him about Patriots QB Drake Maye
