Catching a bomb from Tom Brady wouldn’t be unheard of for Rob Gronkowski, but the veteran tight end broke another record over the weekend when he pulled in a pass thrown from a helicopter 600 feet overhead in Arizona.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted about the historic ball drop.
“Rob Gronkowski and Tedy Bruschi are the honorary head coaches for the University of Arizona’s spring game. But before the game, Gronk set a world world record because... he’s Gronk,” Schefter tweeted.
Gronk’s grab, which happened before the University of Arizona’s spring game in Tucson, put the Tampa Bay Buccaneer in the Guinness Book of World Records. The 31-year-old Amherst, N.Y., native also holds the NFL’s record for most post-season touchdown catches as well as most Super Bowl receiving yards by a tight end. He is very likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame when he winds down his football career.
Rob Gronkowski BREAKS WORLD RECORD!!! Gronk catches football dropped 600ft from a helicopter at Arizona Stadium!!! #BEARDOWN
University of New Mexico professor Nick Flor calculated on Twitter that the ball Gronkowski caught Saturday was plummeting to Earth at more than 133 mph. That’s twice the speed at which a football is known to have been thrown by a human.
Gronk’s first two attempts at the record amounted to a pair of incomplete passes, but number three was charm that prompted the Arizona players standing on the sidelines to swarm their fellow Wildcat. He was a standout athlete at the school before being drafted by the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010.
2021 NFL draft: A potential 'unicorn' leads the top tight ends
1. Kyle Pitts (Jr., Florida, 6-foot-5, 245 pounds)
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Pitts beats man coverage consistently, even when isolated against cornerbacks. He has rare athleticism for a player his size and can turn bad throws into receptions. He's a competitive blocker, but that's not why he's on the field. Some describe him as a unicorn, but I prefer cheat code. Projected: Top 10
2. Pat Freiermuth (Jr., Penn St., 6-5, 251)
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Freiermuth didn't quite live up to the "Baby Gronk" moniker but he's capable of imposing his will as a receiver and blocker. Projected: 2nd round
3. Brevin Jordan (Jr., Miami, 6-2, 247)
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Jordan looks like a jumbo running back after the catch. He has 21 broken tackles on 105 career receptions and 63.3% of his 1,358 career receiving yards came post-catch. The effort is there as a blocker, but the strength and technique needs work. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
4. Tommy Tremble (So., Notre Dame, 6-3, 241)
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Tremble is a heat-seeking missile as a blocker in the run game. He had below-average production as a receiver, but he features legit speed and enough explosiveness to develop into a weapon in the pass game as well. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
5. Hunter Long (Jr., Boston College, 6-5, 254)
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Long is a versatile blocker with reliable hands and classic tight end ball skills. He's capable of becoming a quarterback's best friend in the red zone. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
6. Kenny Yeboah (Sr., Ole Miss, 6-3, 250)
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Yeboah has good vertical speed for the position with plus ball skills — he was second in the FBS among tight ends with 270 yards after the catch in 2020.
His technique and strength as a blocker is lacking. Projected: 4th to 6th round
7. John Bates (Sr., Boise St., 6-5, 250)
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Bates is an impressive all-around athlete (he won state titles in Oregon for the 110-meter hurdles and javelin). His reliable hands are effective against zone coverage, but he's not really a threat after the catch. He's a true asset as a blocker and on special teams. Projected: 6th or 7th round
8. Tony Poljan (Sr., Virginia, 6-6, 251)
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Poljan features the ideal size and strength for inline blocking. The former dual-threat quarterback is still new to the position, but he's showcased the body control and catch radius to threaten the seam. Projected: 4th to 7th round
9. Tre' McKitty (Sr., Georgia, 6-4, 246)
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McKitty has strong hands with the power and toughness to be an effective blocker. He was underutilized as a receiver throughout his collegiate career at Florida State and in his one season in Athens. Projected: 5th or 6th round
10. Jacob Harris (Sr., UCF, 6-5, 219)
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Harris is a former soccer player who didn't catch a pass in a game (at any level) until his junior season of college. He's an explosive athlete who is medium-rare raw, but he has a knack for making catches over defenders. His special teams skills (10 career tackles) will buy him some time as he develops. Projected: 5th to 7th round
BONUS. Ben Mason (Sr., Michigan, 6-2, 246)
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Mason is athletic enough to contribute on offense as a hybrid fullback/H-back, but it's his impact on special teams (14 career tackles) and his presence in the locker room that will help him make a NFL roster. Projected: 5th to 7th round
