Rob Gronkowski, a former NFL tight end, has shared stories of his experiences playing against Bernard Pollard, whom he nicknamed the “Patriot killer” because of the multiple injuries he inflicted on New England Patriots players. On the “Games with Names” podcast hosted by Julian Edelman, Gronkowski shared a few of his favorite memories.
Throughout his nine seasons in the NFL, Bernard Pollard—who was renowned for his hard-hitting style—played for teams including the Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens. He developed a reputation for being particularly harsh on the Patriots thanks to his aggressive play.
Rob Gronkowski shares his story
He related a very moving anecdote about an ankle injury he sustained during a game against Pollard on the previously stated podcast. His performance in Super Bowl 46 against the New York Giants was impacted by this injury, which persisted throughout the Patriots’ remarkable run of dominance. The team lost the game. He said,
“He hip-drop tackled me, Bernard Pollard, who’s kinda like the Patriot killer,” “He took out Tom’s knee. I think he messed up Welker as well.”
“He was a dirty player, I feel like. I landed on my ankle when I fell down and my ankle snapped. It was disappointing, but me being me, went in the locker room, ‘Shoot me up! I don’t care, I’m going back out there!’ I feel like it changed the trajectory of the game. It made my Super Bowl experience miserable as well. It was in Indianapolis.”
During his stellar NFL career, Gronkowski won four Super Bowl championships: Super Bowl LV, one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Super Bowl XLIX, LI, and LIII with the New England Patriots.
