Patriotsâ Rob Gronkowski reportedly was considering retirement before Super Bowl
Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski  is giving retirement some serious thought  apparently. (Bill Wippert/Associated Press)
 New England Patriots  tight  end Rob Gronkowski  raised some eyebrows after  his team âs Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 4 by saying âIâm definitely going to look at my future  for sure â an apparent indication that  he  was mulling retirement after eight NFL seasons. But considering an injury history that stretches back to  his  time at Arizona  Gronkowskiâs comments probably shouldnât be all that surprising.
â  He  missed  his  entire junior season in college after having surgery to repair a bulging disk in  his  back.
â In January 2012   he  sprained  his  ankle in the AFC championship game against the Ravens  and had only two catches in New Englandâs second Super Bowl loss to the Giants.
â The next season â  his  third in the NFL â  he  broke  his  forearm while blocking on an extra point and missed five games.  He  then broke the same forearm in a postseason win over the Texans and missed New Englandâs next game  a loss to the Ravens.
â  He  played in only seven games in 2013  missing the first six after offseason surgery to repair a fractured vertebra and then the final three after tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in  his  right knee and suffering a concussion on one play in a Dec. 8 game against the Browns.
â In 2015   he  missed one game after taking a hit to the knee against the Broncos.
â This past season   he  suffered a concussion in the AFC championship game and likely was not 100 percent for the Super Bowl.
[TGT] is giving retirement some serious thought  apparently. (Bill Wippert/Associated Press)
 New England Patriots  tight  end  [TGT] raised some eyebrows after   [TGT]  team âs Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 4 by saying âIâm definitely going to look at my future  for sure â an apparent indication that   [TGT]   was mulling retirement after eight NFL seasons. But considering an injury history that stretches back to   [TGT]   time at Arizona  Gronkowskiâs comments probably shouldnât be all that surprising.
â   [TGT]   missed   [TGT]   entire junior season in college after having surgery to repair a bulging disk in   [TGT]   back.
â In January 2012   he  sprained  his  ankle in the AFC championship game against the Ravens  and had only two catches in New Englandâs second Super Bowl loss to the Giants.
â The next season â  his  third in the NFL â  he  broke  his  forearm while blocking on an extra point and missed five games.  He  then broke the same forearm in a postseason win over the Texans and missed New Englandâs next game  a loss to the Ravens.
â  He  played in only seven games in 2013  missing the first six after offseason surgery to repair a fractured vertebra and then the final three after tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in  his  right knee and suffering a concussion on one play in a Dec. 8 game against the Browns.
â In 2015   he  missed one game after taking a hit to the knee against the Broncos.
â This past season   he  suffered a concussion in the AFC championship game and likely was not 100 percent for the Super Bowl.