Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski ready for 'epic' return to Gillette Stadium in showdown with Patriots

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' visit to Gillette Stadium in Week 4 has been viewed as Tom Brady's return to New England. However, he isn't the only former Patriot returning to where it all began. 

Rob Gronkowski will also make the trip to face his former team, and the four-time Super Bowl champion is looking forward to it, to say the least.

"That's going to be crazy. It's going to be pretty epic," Gronk told Casey Phillips of the Bucs official team website. "It's definitely going to be emotional for sure, I would say. I just had a great nine years (in New England). Probably the best nine years of my life. It was the beginning of basically my whole football career there. It's definitely going to be heartfelt when I go back. And I've just got to be prepared for that game. I've got to be prepared for every game, but especially that one. It's never going to be easy. It's going to be tough. It's going to be a good one. It's going to be different."

Gronkowski built his Hall of Fame career with the Patriots, racking up 7,861 yards and 79 TDs in nine seasons. He won three Super Bowls in New England alongside Brady and Bill Belichick before taking a year off in 2019 and joining the Buccaneers in 2020. 

The 32-year-old had a solid season in his return to the field, catching 45 passes for 623 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games. In four playoff games, he had eight catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, with his best performance coming in the Super Bowl. 

The Bucs were able to bring back all 22 of their starters from their championship team, so it won't be easy for the Patriots to upset Brady and Gronkowski's return to town.