Dan Gronkowski Daniel Thomas Gronkowski ( born January 21 , 1985 ) is an American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft . He played college football at Maryland . He has also played for the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots . Early years . Gronkowski was born in Amherst , New York to parents Gordon and Diane Gronkowski . His great - grandfather , Ignatius , was a member of the 1924 U . S . Olympic cycling team in Paris . Dan Gronkowski attended Williamsville North High School where he played football , baseball , basketball , and ice hockey . He was a two - year starting quarterback and a one - year starting wide receiver . As a sophomore in 2001 , he set a then - school record with 539 receiving yards . During his senior year in 2003 , he completed 122 of 207 passes for 1 , 407 yards and 16 touchdowns , all of which were school records . He was named the league offensive Most Valuable Player . He was recruited by Maryland , Arizona , Purdue , and Syracuse . College career . Gronkowski sat out 2004 as a redshirt . In 2005 , he saw action in five games and made two receptions for 37 yards , including a career - long 25 - yard touchdown reception from Sam Hollenbach . In 2006 , he saw action in all 13 games including nine starts . He had two receptions for 11 yards . He received the George Boutselis Memorial Award for team ' s highest GPA . In 2007 , Gronkowski played in 11 games including eight starts and caught seven passes for 66 yards . He received the team ' s C . P . " Lefty " McIntosh Award for public service . In 2008 , he played in all 13 games and started in 12 . He caught 29 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns , including one matching his career - long 25 - yard reception in 2005 . He also some action on special teams and returned two kicks for eight and four yards . He was named an honorable mention All - ACC player . He earned a degree in marketing and was pursuing an MBA when he was drafted . He was also in the process to be nominated as a Rhodes Scholar his final year at the University of Maryland . Professional career . Pre - draft . Draft Countdown assessed him as the 21st - ranked tight end prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft . The NFL Draft Scout ranked him the 11th out of 96 tight end prospects and projected him as a fifth or sixth round selection . Detroit Lions . Gronkowski was drafted 255th overall ( 2nd to last ) by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft . On June 25 , 2009 he signed a three - year $ 1 . 21 million deal , which includes a signing bonus of around $ 26 , 000 . He was waived on September 5 , 2009 and signed to the Lions ' practice squad a day later . Gronkowski was promoted to the active roster on December 1 , 2009 after tight end Brandon Pettigrew was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury . He caught his first pass against the Baltimore Ravens on December 13 . He was waived on December 17 , and re - signed to Lions ' practice squad on December 20 . After his practice squad contract expired , Gronkowski was signed to a future reserve contract on January 5 , 2010 . Denver Broncos . He was traded to the Denver Broncos on September 4 , 2010 for cornerback Alphonso Smith . He was released on September 3 , 2011 . New England Patriots . Gronkowski signed with the New England Patriots on September 6 , 2011 . However , after playing in two games , he was waived on September 23 . He re - signed with the team on October 10 . . On November 8 , 2011 , Dan Gronkowski was released for a second time . Cleveland Browns . After Browns tight end Alex Smith was placed on the Injured Reserve , they signed Gronkowski to a one year contract . On August 31 , 2012 , He was released . The Browns resigned him on January 3 , 2013 . Personal . His father , Gordon Gronkowski , started for three years as an offensive guard at Syracuse . Dan has four brothers , three of whom played college sports . Gordie Gronkowski , Jr . played baseball as a first baseman at Jacksonville University . Chris Gronkowski received a scholarship from the University of Maryland and played there as a fullback in 2005 and 2006 before transferring to Arizona . Chris is now a fullback for the Denver Broncos . His brother Rob Gronkowski is a starting tight end for the New England Patriots . Glenn Gronkowski is currently a freshman Fullback at the Kansas State University .