New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

 Michael Conroy

Given the NFL’s high national profile, "Gronk" may be the most well-known former UA athlete today. Despite a series of injuries, the tight end has played in four Pro Bowls for New England, helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls and has caught passes for more than 1,000 yards in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

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Contact sports columnist Greg Hansen at 520-573-4362 or ghansen@tucson.com. On Twitter: @ghansen711