Rob Gronkowski Headlines Legends Up for Vote to be Inducted into Patriots' Hall of Fame

Before he dons a gold jacket, retired tight end Rob Gronkowski might get the call to a different Hall of Fame.

ESPN's Mike Reiss noted the five-time Pro Bowler is eligible for the New England Patriots' HOF starting in 2026. Their selection committee will meet Wednesday to begin evaluating the candidates.

Gronkowski is arguably the most dominant tight end in NFL history. Tony Gonzalez, Travis Kelce, Shannon Sharpe, Jason Witten and Antonio Gates all have better counting stats, but nobody from that group impacted a game like Gronk when he was in his prime.

Between 2011-17, he averaged 77.1 yards per game and 15.4 yards per reception with 66 touchdowns in 86 appearances.

Gronkowski will be up for induction with the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2027 class, and he could be headed for Canton, Ohio, in his first time on the ballot. It's tough to look past the four All-Pro nods and four Super Bowl titles.

The competition for the Patriots HOF might actually be tougher as the franchise works through the backlog of contributors from its dynastic run. New England only picks one person to enter its Hall of Fame each year.

Logan Mankins, a six-time Pro Bowler in 11 seasons with New England, was once again a finalist in 2025 along with Adam Vinatieri, one of the greatest kickers ever who almost always came up in the clutch. Both missed out with wide receiver Julian Edelman getting the nod instead.

History might repeat itself with Gronkowski now under consideration, or the committee may feel it's time for Mankins or Vinatieri to be honored.