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Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski has recounted his encounters with Bernard Pollard, a player he dubbed the "Patriot killer" due to the numerous injuries New England Patriots players sustained while facing him. Gronkowski opened up about some memorable moments on Julian Edelman's podcast, "Games with Names."
Bernard Pollard, known for his hard-hitting style, played nine seasons in the NFL with teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Titans. His fierce play earned him the reputation of being especially tough on the Patriots.
Gronkowski shares anecdote
On the aforementioned podcast, he shared a particularly impactful story about an ankle injury he suffered in a game against Pollard. This injury carried over and affected his performance in Super Bowl 46 against the New York Giants, a game that the Patriots lost during their impressive dynasty run.
"He hip-drop tackled me, Bernard Pollard, who's kinda like the Patriot killer," Gronkowski said.
"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."
Gronkowski had an illustrious NFL career, winning four Super Bowl championships - three with the New England Patriots (Super Bowl XLIX, LI, LIII) and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Super Bowl LV).