Rob Gronkowski already thought of himself as a New England Patriot for life.

Now he’s made it official, and fulfilled the wish of a longtime friend.

Gronkowski signed a one-day contract with the Patriots on Wednesday to retire as a member of the team he won three Super Bowls with during his 11-year NFL career.

“I’m a Patriot for life. My career started here and 100 per cent needed to end here,” Gronkowski said after the ceremonial signing alongside team owner Robert Kraft.

While Kraft said there had been plans for Gronkowski to formally retire as a Patriot after he became eligible and was elected to the team’s hall of fame, the process was accelerated recently.

It was during the opening of a “Gronk Playground” in Boston that Gronkowski was present for in August that his longtime frien

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