Rob Gronkowski Endorses 'Right Quarterback' For Patriots
FOXBORO — New England Patriots legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski is a believer in quarterback Mac Jones. In Bill O’Brien’s offense, that is.
“He had a great rookie season,” Gronkowski said of Jones during his appearance on The Next Pats Podcast. “Obviously it kinda went downhill a little bit [in 2022], but I really feel like (the) sky could be the limit for him this year.”
Gronkowski, who spent 11 NFL seasons catching passes from Tom Brady (arguably history’s greatest quarterback), is obviously no stranger to prolific play at the position.
He also has a working knowledge of playing within an O’Brien-designed offense.
In his first two NFL seasons, Gronkowski enjoyed notable success under tutelage of the Pats offensive coordinator, during O’Brien’s first tour of duty in the position. After a solid rookie season in 2010, the Arizona product emerged as one of the NFL’s best tight ends, catching 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2011 — all of which were career highs.
Gronkowski not only acknowledged O'Brien's leadership as a key factor in his development into one of the best tight ends in the history of the game, he also sees him as the proper choice to help Jones thrive in New England.
“In order to be successful as a player, sometimes you’ve just gotta be in the right system,” Gronkowski said. “I feel like having Billy O. come in is going to be the ultimate test. If he doesn’t improve under Billy O., well then I think the ceiling is closed. But if he improves under Billy O. and showcases his talents the right way, I think he can go as far as he wants.”
Though he entered the season on the heels of an impressive rookie campaign, Jones struggled to rekindle his previous success in 2022. The 24-year-old displayed notable discomfort in New England's new offensive system throughout the season. At times, the disconnect between the players and the coaching staff was so overt that Jones was observed hurling expletive-laden frustrations, believed to be in the direction of his coaches.
Despite the numerous pratfalls from the previous season, Gronkowski believes that O’Brien’s system should provide a greater sense of security for Jones in his third year with the team.
“I think that [Bill O’Brien] is going to put Mac Jones in the best possible situation that he can be in, week in and week out and throughout every single play,” said Gronkowski. So you’re not going to really see a play where you’re just hitting your head like, ‘What was that?’ I feel like Billy O. does a great job utilizing his talent around him from the quarterback position all the way to the tight ends and to the wide receivers.”
The Pats starter is reportedly “very” excited about O’Brien joining the coaching staff. Shortly after “is looking forward to working with coach O’Brien,” and that it will be “nice to start a new working relationship with someone that you already have had the opportunity to work with.”
Like Gronkowski, Jones also has a previous working relationship with O’Brien. While the pair have yet to share the sidelines as player and coach, the 24-year-old Pats starter was one of the select few players tasked with assisting him in learning the nuances of a “challenging” Alabama offensive system, which O’Brien coordinated from 2021-22.
“I think the most challenging thing for me was, when I came in here, learning this offense,” O’Brien said prior to the 2021 Cotton Bowl. “And I had a lot of people help me, people that were here before, guys on the coaching staff, obviously Bryce [Young]. I’ve said before, Mac Jones, when he was working out for the draft, helped me, which was great.”
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