Robert James "Rob" Gronkowski (born May 14, 1989), nicknamed "The Gronk", is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Arizona, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. In 2011 Gronkowski, in just his second season in the NFL, set the single-season record for touchdowns by a tight end, with 17 receiving touchdowns, and 18 overall. In so doing, he became the first tight end in NFL history to lead the league in receiving touchdowns.