Brady Returns: The Top 5 Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski Plays At Gillette Stadium

Sunday’s Green Bay Packers-New England Patriots game will not only serve as a homecoming for one GOAT, but it will also be a special day for another. 

As Tom Brady is set to call his first game at Gillette Stadium, Rob Gronkowski will be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame over the weekend. Gronkowski arguably became the greatest tight end in NFL history during his nine seasons in New England, winning three Super Bowls, being named a Pro Bowler five times and setting numerous records at the position. 

With Gronkowski setting a new standard for excellence at tight end and becoming one of the key figures of the Patriots’ dynasty run, it’s easy to wonder if he’ll also get a statue outside of Gillette Stadium someday, just like Brady. In fact, Brady was asked if Gronkowski will get a statue outside of Gillette Stadium sometime down the road in the latest edition of “#AskTom.”

Brady not only said yes, but he also gave Patriots fans an idea on how they could build a statue for him this weekend. 

“I actually think we need to crowdsource beer cans this weekend and the fans will build the statue themselves,” Brady said. “I’ll come out, I’ll get it in on the action and that would be a true testament to the Gronk mentality. It would warm my heart.”

Brady connecting on a beer can toss to Gronk to help build a statue would be the latest of several memorable connections they’ve had over the years. The 105 touchdowns (including playoffs) that Brady threw to Gronkowski are the second-most by any quarterback-receiver duo in NFL history. 

But as Brady and Gronkowski return to their old stomping ground this week, which five plays between the two of them were the best at Gillette Stadium? Here are the top five Brady-to-Gronkowski plays at Gillette Stadium. 

When you’ve thrown 105 touchdown passes to one player, you can certainly trust that receiver to come down with a 50/50 ball.

That’s what Brady did with Gronkowski on numerous occasions in his career. One notable instance came in Week 1 of the 2015 season. Lining up in a goal-line formation, Brady ran a play-action fake and threw a lob to Gronkowski in the back of the end zone. Gronkowski used his size to perfectly get himself in position to grab the ball, while somehow keeping his feet inbounds to successfully come down with the touchdown grab.

Gronkowski absolutely dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers in that game as well. He caught five passes for 94 yards — and three of those catches were touchdown grabs. 

That was practically an average showing for Gronkowski against the Steelers in his career. He had 41 catches for 685 yards and eight touchdowns in seven career games against Pittsburgh. 

Another instance where Brady trusted Gronkowski to come down with a 50/50 ball, but this reception was a bit more difficult. Gronkowski was lined out wide and ran a fade along the sideline toward the end zone, with Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde running in lockstep with him.

However, Brady was able to place the ball in a place where Gronkowski could only get it. Gronkowski made a back shoulder grab, only needing one hand to haul in the reception for a 17-yard touchdown. 

That catch helped spark a 37-16 win for the Patriots, with Gronkowski recording five receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown in that game.

While there were many instances when Brady trusted Gronkowski to come down with a 50/50 grab, this play against the Chicago Bears was one where the all-time great tight end made the magic happen himself. 

Brady threw a low strike to Gronkowski over the middle, getting it by a diving Bears defender. After Gronkowski caught the ball at his ankles, he threw a stiff arm to get one would-be tackler off of him before dragging another would-be tackler five yards and into the end zone for a 47-yard