Retired tight end Rob Gronkowski won't take the field for Super Bowl 58 between the Chiefs and 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. However, the four-time NFL champion will certainly be one of the most widely-discussed ex-players during the game.
Gronk will once again attempt a field goal during a live Super Bowl 58 commercial as part of FanDuel's "Kick of Destiny" campaign. Any user who places a Super Bowl bet of at least five dollars on FanDuel Sportsbook will win a share of $10 million in free bets if the four-time All-Pro kicks it through the uprights.
The campaign initially kicked off (so to speak) last year with a FanDuel commercial announcing Gronkowski's return to football, this time as a kicker. Gronk turned to former teammate and world-champion kicker Adam Vinatieri as a coach, but he missed last year's 25-yard attempt wide left.
Rob Gronkowski ‘Kick of Destiny 2’, explained: FanDuel puts $10 million on the line during Super Bowl 58
FanDuel recently ran another ad announcing the five-time Pro Bowler's chance for redemption in the "Kick of Destiny 2." Subsequent ads have followed Gronk during his training for the big kick, and fans and FanDuel users will be able to follow the five-time Pro Bowler's journey on FD's YouTube page.
"I can't lie, when I missed the Kick of Destiny during last year's Super Bowl, it was devastating," Gronkowski said in a statement. "I told the team at FanDuel I knew I could do better and needed a shot at redemption this year."
Last year, Gronk needed to make the field goal for users to win a share of the $10 million in free bets. This year, users can pick whether he will make or miss the kick, and anyone who guesses correctly will win an equal share of the $10 million pot.
The kick will take place before the National Anthem on the day of the Big Game. The pressure will be even greater, as this time the kick will happen in front of a live audience.
"I'm going to show America I can make that kick," said Gronk, "even with all the pressure of doing it live in front of the entire country."
The outcome of the kick will be shown in a subsequent commercial during the second quarter of the Super Bowl.
Gronkowski has revealed in the past that he has made one field goal during live action in his storied career, a 33-yard boot back in high school.
Call us crazy, but we think Gronkowski gets it done this time around. Now that we all saw him shank the 2023 "Kick of Destiny," it only makes sense for him to chip one perfectly down the middle this time around.
Besides, have we ever seen Gronk fail two times in a row under the brightest of lights? We're betting that "Yes," he will kick the field goal successfully. Let's go, Gronk — show us the money!
