Rob Gronkowski says decision to sign 1-day contract and retire as a Patriot was a ‘no

Rob Gronkowski already thought of himself as a New England Patriot for life.

Now he’s made it official, and fulfilled the wish of a longtime friend.

Gronkowski signed a one-day contract with the Patriots on Wednesday to retire as a member of the team he won three Super Bowls with during his 11-year NFL career.

“I’m a Patriot for life. My career started here and 100% needed to end here,” Gronkowski said after the ceremonial signing alongside team owner Robert Kraft.

While Kraft said there had been plans for Gronkowski to formally retire as a Patriot after he became eligible and was elected to the team’s hall of fame, the process was accelerated recently.

It was during the opening of a “Gronk Playground” in Boston that Gronkowski was present for in August that his longtime friend and ch