Rob Gronkowski Shares the Unexpected Aspect of Football He Misses Most: Practice

Most fans would probably assume Rob Gronkowski misses game day. The packed stadiums. The touchdowns. The playoff runs. The Super Bowl celebrations.

But when Men's Journal recently sat down with the future Hall of Fame tight end to discuss his partnership with wellness brand Ryde:, Gronkowski revealed that the thing he misses most about football has nothing to do with Sundays. Instead, he misses the work that happened at practice.

In fact, it was something he had recently been discussing with former New England Patriots teammate Matt Light.

"We'd grind so hard out there," Gronkowski told Men's Journal. "You'd lose 10 pounds of sweat." The memory made him laugh.

The Feeling You Can't Replicate

Gronkowski said the thing he misses most is the sense of accomplishment that came from surviving those grueling practices. It was the satisfaction of finishing something difficult, knowing he'd pushed himself to his limit.

"That feeling afterward was everything," he said.

As Gronkowski described the feeling, it became clear he wasn't really talking about football at all. He was talking about earning something. The camaraderie that develops when people go through hard things together.

The confidence that comes from showing up, putting in the work, and knowing you gave everything you had. Those moments create bonds that last long after a career ends.

"The sense of accomplishment," Gronkowski said again, reflecting on what made those practices so memorable.

Serindipitously, my teenage son was talking about the same feeling the night before my conversation with Gronk. I told him, "My 16-year-old was just telling his buddy how you'll get your a-- kicked at practice, but once you're done, you feel great about it."

"See?! Look at us - we're bonding now," Gronkowski said with a light in his eyes that only the love of the game can ignite.

"It's that Midwest connection," I said, and he wholeheartedly agreed.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Fitness section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 4:00 AM.