It ended up being the perfect touchdown celebration for Rob Gronkowski over the course of his NFL career.
But the former New England Patriots legendary tight end didn’t start the “Gronk spike.”
Gronkowski shared the origin story of the famed move with Kay Adams on the “Up and Adams Show” and detailed that it was actually his older brother, Chris, who got it all started during his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2010.
“He actually has one touchdown in his career in the NFL from Tony Romo and he started the Gronk spike,” Gronkowski said. “He absolutely Gronk spiked the ball to the moon when he scored his one-yard touchdown. So, he only has one touchdown, but we can say he famously started the Gronk spike.”
Gronkowski took over the celebration after that lone touchdown from his brother and did it a lot over the course of his career. Gronkowski totaled 92 receiving touchdowns during his 11 seasons in the NFL with the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There’s been no Gronk spiking this season, though, with the 34-year-old retired from football. But there is a possibility it’s not gone forever.
Gronkowski got nearly everybody worked up about a potential comeback with a simple tweet last week and reportedly has been in contact with the Buccaneers this season. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport added to the speculation about Gronkowski playing again, too, by reporting the door isn’t closed on him returning to the NFL in 2023.
So, Gronkowski might have a few Gronk spikes left in the tank, and he has his brother to thank for that.
