If you watched even five minutes of Wednesday’s New England Patriots Super Bowl parade, you undoubtedly spotted the unique headwear sported by one of the event’s main attractions, Rob Gronkowski.
Rather than the standard Patriots toque worn by many of his teammates, Gronkowski instead decided to rock a hat inspired by the “minion” characters from the animated “Despicable Me” films.
It was Gronk being Gronk at its finest. But what exactly was behind his wardrobe choice?
Well, it turns out the tight end’s beanie was a gift from Kingston, Mass., native Lisa Palma, who knit the hat for Gronkowski after he autographed a jersey for her husband, John, a frequent Gillette Stadium tailgater. Palma never expected to see her handiwork show up on national TV, though.
“When my husband had me make it for him, I’m like, ‘When is he ever going to wear a minion hat?’” she told WHDH.
But after receiving a tip from her son, Palma fixed her eyes on the duck boats.
“We’re waiting to watch Gronk,” she said. “Show Gronk. Show Gronk with the minion hat. Then I started getting texts of people showing me Gronk wearing the minion hat. I couldn’t believe it.”
“Here they are (Wednesday),” John Palma added. “Super Bowl, the world is watching, and you see Rob Gronkowski wearing the custom hat my wife made, slugging down a beer.”
Rob Gronkowski. The one and only.
