Quick Facts
Biography
Christopher Gronkowski (born December 26, 1986) is a former American football fullback who played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at the University of Arizona.
Early years
Gronkowski was born on December 26, 1986 in Buffalo, NY to Diane and Gordon Gronkowski. He attended Williamsville North High School in Williamsville, New York where he was a three-year letterwinner playing football and baseball. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry and recorded 453 receiving yards his senior year. He also forced 4 fumbles and recorded 82 tackles and 2 touchdowns on defense.
College career
Gronkowski was recruited to Maryland as a fullback in 2005, but redshirted his freshman year. His redshirt freshman season in 2006, he worked his way up into the fullback rotation. He had the eighth highest strength index on the team which was the best among running backs.
In his redshirt sophomore season in 2007, he transferred to the University of Arizona where he played linebacker. He went back to the starting fullback position in 2008 as a fourth year junior, as he recorded 8 receptions for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was also the Second Team All-Pac-10 Academic Football Team. In 2009, as a fifth year senior, he recorded 4 catches for 20 yards.
Professional career
Pre-Draft
| Ht | Wt | 40-yd dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20-ss | 3-cone | Vert | Broad | BP | Wonderlic | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2 in | 238 lb | 4.71 s | 1.64 s | 2.73 s | 4.37 s | 7.16 s | 34 1⁄2 in | 10 ft 3 in | 24 reps | N/A | |||||||||
| All values from 2010 Arizona Pro Day | |||||||||||||||||||
Dallas Cowboys
2010 season
Gronkowski did not attend the NFL Scouting Combine in 2010, though his brother Rob did. He declared for the 2010 NFL Draft and was projected as high as the 4th round, but went undrafted. One day after the draft, on April 25, Gronkowski signed with the Dallas Cowboys. On September 4, he made the 53 man roster after passing an injured Deon Anderson on the depth chart. He made his first career start on September 19, against the Chicago Bears. Also, his first career touchdown catch came in the same game on a one-yard pass from Tony Romo.
On October 25, in a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants, Gronkowski missed a blitz pickup on Michael Boley as he ran straight to Romo and hit him high. Romo got the pass off to Miles Austin, but he suffered a fractured left clavicle, which ended his season. He started 7 out of 14 games and finished the season with 17 rushing yards on 5 carries and 7 catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. He was waived on September 3, 2011.
Indianapolis Colts
On September 4, 2011, Gronkowski was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts. On October 25, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a pectoral injury.
Denver Broncos
On May 23, 2012, Gronkowski was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for cornerback Cassius Vaughn. He appeared in 14 games and wasn't re-signed after the season.
San Diego Chargers
On April 23, 2013, Gronkowski signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent . On August 27, he was placed on the reserve/injured list. On August 31, he was waived with an injury settlement.
Personal life
His great-grandfather, Ignatius Gronkowski, was a member of the 1924 U.S. Olympic cycling team in Paris. His brothers Rob and his older brother Dan are both NFL tight ends, while his younger brother Glenn is a fullback in the NFL. His father played three years as an offensive guard at Syracuse.