Foxborough, Massachusetts: Rob Gronkowski Enters Patriots Hall of Fame as Tom Brady Returns

Rob Gronkowski took his place among the New England Patriots greats on Saturday, November 7, when the team inducted him into the Patriots Hall of Fame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. More than 60 former players returned for the ceremony at Patriot Place Plaza, along with several members of the team's Hall of Fame. Gronkowski became the 38th member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, after fans voted him in last April during his first year of eligibility.

A red jacket and one last spike

Former teammates and coaches spent the ceremony telling stories about the tight end's power on the field and his energy everywhere else. Matt Light, who protected Tom Brady's blind side for a decade, presented Gronkowski with a "Yo Soy Hall of Famer" T-shirt. Nate Solder recalled visiting a hospital with his son and finding Gronkowski downstairs spending time with patients. Julian Edelman sent a video message calling Gronkowski the most dominant player he ever played with.

Jonathan Kraft told the crowd that Gronkowski "was put on this earth to do two things: to play football and to make people feel happy." Team owner Robert Kraft could not attend. He said on November 5 that his recovery from back surgery would keep him away, and he sent a video message instead, telling Gronkowski that he had been family since the day the Patriots drafted him.

The ceremony also recognized Gronkowski's work away from football. Through the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, he has supported children and charities across New England, including the development of Gronk Park along Boston's Charles River.

When Gronkowski took the podium, he thanked the fans who shaped his persona. "I fell to the Patriots for a reason. I came to the Patriots for a cause. It's where I belong. It's where I was meant to be," he said. He closed by calling himself "a Patriot for life," then finished the day the only way the crowd expected: with a Gronk spike.

Brady back in Foxborough

Tom Brady attended the ceremony without an advance announcement and drew a loud ovation at Patriot Place Plaza. Brady is in town to call Sunday's game between the Patriots and the Green Bay Packers for FOX. Gronkowski said Brady's presence meant everything to him, to his family and to the fans, and he called Brady the greatest player of all time.

The career behind the honor

The Patriots drafted Gronkowski 42nd overall in 2010. In nine seasons in New England, he caught 521 passes for 7,861 yards and 79 receiving touchdowns in 115 regular season games. He helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls, earned five Pro Bowl selections and four first team All-Pro honors, and he still holds the NFL postseason records for a tight end with 81 catches, 1,163 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

One more honor on Sunday

The Patriots will honor Gronkowski again at halftime of Sunday's game against Green Bay, when members of the 2016 Patriots team will also be introduced. Brady will be at that game too, calling it from the FOX broadcast booth. Gronkowski's next stop could be Canton: he will have an opportunity to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame next summer.