Happy Birthday, Rob Gronkowski! Robert James Gronkowski br turns 31 years old today. Here are five fun facts br about the professional br football player. 1. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010 during the second round of the NFL Draft. 2. His great-grandfather, br Ignatius Gronkowski, br was on the U.S. Olympic br cycling team in 1924. 3. His nickname br is “Gronk.” 4. Gronkowski is the only NFL tight end to reach 1,000 or more yards. 5. He holds the tight end br record for receiving the br most single-season br touchdowns with 17.