Rob Gronkowski to Reunite With Tom Brady in Tampa Bay

Rob Gronkowski, the All-Pro tight end who left the N.F.L. after the 2018 season, plans to return to the league, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gronkowski, who did not officially retire when he stepped away from the game last March, was traded by his old team, the New England Patriots, to Tampa Bay, where he will be reunited with quarterback Tom Brady, pending a physical examination.

The Patriots will send Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick in this week’s N.F.L. draft to the Buccaneers, and receive a fourth-round pick from Tampa Bay in return.

Brady, 42, who became a free agent for the first time after spending two decades in New England, signed a two-year contract worth as much as $60 million last month with the Buccaneers.

Gronkowski, the game’s most dominant tight end during his nine years in New England, helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl titles. His goofy, frat boy persona off the field made him one of the more colorful players in the league.

But on the field, he was no joke. In nine seasons, Gronkowski, who will turn 31 next month, caught 521 passes for 7,861 yards and a Patriots-record 79 receiving touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl five times and was first-team All-Pro four times, taking full advantage of his size and speed to find mismatches. He was often considered Brady’s favorite target, and a big one at 6-foot-6.

However, a series of injuries led to questions about how much longer he could play. He hinted for several seasons that he was considering leaving the N.F.L. because of the wear and tear on his body, which led to missed games because of numerous injuries, including a torn knee ligament, a broken forearm, a herniated disc in his back, among others.

He left the league on a high note, helping the Patriots — the only team he had played for — beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl following the 2018 season.

During his time away from football last year, Gronkowski, known simply as Gronk, appeared at wrestling events, promoted cannabidiol products as pain relievers and focused on his charity.

Even so, he remained in demand. The owner of the Patriots, Robert K. Kraft, made no secret of his desire to persuade Gronkowski to return to the team in time for the playoffs last season. Gronkowski had not turned in his retirement papers, so the Patriots still held his rights. The Patriots offense was not nearly as potent without Gronkowski, and their season ended quickly after one playoff game.

Though Gronkowski passed on the chance to return to the Patriots, he apparently felt well enough to come back to the N.F.L. if he could play again with Brady. The teammates will join a Buccaneers team already stocked with offensive talent, including wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Under head coach Bruce Arians, the Buccaneers had the third-best offense in the league last year, with Jameis Winston at quarterback.

With Brady and Gronkowski reunited in Tampa, the N.F.C. South, which includes the New Orleans Saints, could become one of the most competitive divisions in the league.