Gronkowski Becomes 2nd Patriots Player with 60 Career Touchdowns

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had a quiet game by his own lofty standards in Sunday's 34-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but he did manage to become just the second player in Patriots history with 60 or more career touchdowns, per ESPN Stats & Info.

After being held without a catch in the first half, Gronkowski caught two balls for 35 yards on the opening drive of the second half, with the second of his two receptions going for a 25-yard touchdown against a blown coverage.

Despite adding just one more catch for 15 yards before the end of the game, Gronkowski is on pace to finish the year with 74 receptions for 1,360 yards and 16 touchdowns.

With 59 career receiving scores and one rushing score, the 26-year-old tight end needs just nine more total touchdowns to break wide receiver Stanley Morgan's franchise record of 68.

Morgan played for the Patriots from 1977 to 1989, scoring 67 of his touchdowns on receptions and one on a punt return.

He also holds the franchise records for career receiving yards (10,352) and receiving touchdowns (67), but Wes Welker holds the mark for receptions (672) despite spending just six seasons with the Patriots.

If he can stay healthy, which has been the greatest challenge to this point in his career, Gronkowski should eventually pass both Welker and Morgan to take over all of New England's key receiving records.

The massive tight end has 331 catches for 4,804 yards and 59 touchdowns through the first 70 regular-season contests of his career.