There's been speculation over whether Rob Gronkowski will return to the NFL, but the former tight end gave his most definitive answer yet about making a potential comeback.
Speaking Tuesday with WEEI 93.7 FM radio in Boston, Gronkowski dismissed any idea of playing football again in the near future.
"I'll give an answer. When I retired, I retired for a reason: because I needed to step away," Gronkowski said, per NBC Sports. "So it would be a no. There it is."
Gronkowski retired in March and started work last week as an NFL analyst on Fox, where he said that he'll always leave the door open to unretire, though it appears unlikely to happen any time soon.
"I never say no, because I've said no, and everyone's like, 'Yeah, he's kidding. He's coming back,'" Gronkowski said. "But it's a no. In my mind, that's how it is. It's a no.
"I'm very satisfied where I'm at. I say it all the time: I would have never left the game if I was going to be itching every single day. I've said that before, many times.
"I had those thoughts, too. 'Would I be missing it?' And I just knew that it needed to be done. I'm very satisfied where I'm at."
Just one day earlier, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said he's happy to see his former teammate thriving in life after football, and doesn't want to disrupt that peace but trying to persuade him to play.
"I'm so happy that he's enjoying his time, his life. He seems to really be doing a lot of great things. He knows how I feel about him. I want what's best for him. He's the only person that can make those decisions. I don't lobby for those things," Brady said Monday morning in his weekly appearance on WEEI.
A second-round selection of the Patriots in 2010, Gronkowski finished his career with five Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro honors and three Super Bowl victories. He remains New England's leader in touchdowns and is tied for the second-most receiving scores in postseason history.
He is also the NFL's postseason leader among tight ends in catches (81), receiving yards (1,163) and receiving touchdowns (12).
"He's given a hell of a lot to our team already over a long period of time, and I think people should be very appreciative for what he's brought to the team and what he's brought to the region," Brady added. "I think he's just a very special guy. He's at a different phase of his life."