Sports

Actions

Rob Gronkowski threatened to retire so he didn't get traded to the Detroit Lions

Rob Gronkowski crashes White House press briefing
Posted at 6:09 PM, Apr 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-23 18:28:14-04

(WXYZ) — Rob Gronkowski really didn't want to play for the Detroit Lions. In a new interview with Fox Sports, Gronk said he threatened to retire instead of accepting the trade.

Reminder: You can watch the NFL Draft starting Thursday at 8 p.m. on Channel 7

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Lions would've traded a first-round pick and a second-round pick in for Gronkowski and a second-round pick in 2018.

Speaking to Fox Sports during the NFL season, Gronkowski said he got the call and told the team, "Well I'm retired. I don't know how the trade can go through. Two days later, the trade never went through."

Gronkowski eventually retired after the 2018 season, but this week came back and was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play with Tom Brady.