We take a look back at Rob Gronkowski's 2016 season and offer our predictions for 2017.
2016 Honors & Awards: Team Captain (1st season)
2016 Regular Season Stats:25 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns in eight games played with six starts. Despite making just eight appearances with six starts due to injury in 2016, Rob Gronkowski finished the year ranked fifth on the team in receiving yards with 540.
- Became the sixth Patriots player to reach 400 career receptions following a five-catch performance at Buffalo in Week 8.
- Notched three 100-yard games receiving in the eight appearances he made, including two in back-to-back weeks to mark his first career consecutive 100-yard games.
- Moved past Stanley Morgan for the most touchdowns overall and most touchdown receptions in team history with his 69th overall touchdown and 68th touchdown reception with a 53-yard score at Buffalo in Week 8.
- Also marked the second-longest touchdown reception of his career with his 53-yard score at Buffalo in Week 8.
- His 162 receiving yards at Cincinnati marked a career high for Gronkowski.
Check out our favorite photos of Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski from the 2016 season.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs a route during the 2016 NFL week 7 football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 in Pittsburgh. The Patriots defeated the Steelers 27-16. ( Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) completes a 26 yard reception late in the 4th quarter to the 2 yard line defended by Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead (35) during the NFL week 10 football game on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 in Foxboro, Mass. The Seahawks defeated the Patriots 31-24. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs from Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Seahawks defeated the Patriots, 31-24. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Cleveland. New England won 33-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) completes a reception and runs for 19 yards in the 1st quarter during the 2016 NFL week 5 regular season football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 in Cleveland. The Patriots defeated the Browns 33-13. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski warms up before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates after winning the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski runs against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski reacts after a catch during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Cleveland. New England won 33-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates after LeGarrette Blount scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) is congratulated by tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) after scoring a touchdown in action against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday October 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Mass (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates a first down yardage reception during the 2016 NFL week 8 regular season football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 in Orchard Park, NY. The Patriots defeated the Bills 41-25. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates after LeGarrette Blount scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. New England won, 41-25. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs for yardage after a catch in action against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday October 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Mass (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates a touchdown by spiking the ball during the 2016 NFL week 6 football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 35-17. ( Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) gets gang tackled by Buffalo Bills defensive back Robert Blanton (26) and two Bills teammates after Gronk catches an 18 yard pass reception good for a first down at the Bills 18 yard line in the fourth quarter during the 2016 NFL week 8 regular season football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Patriots won the game 41-25. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) catches a pass between Cincinnati Bengals safety Derron Smith (31) and linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) takes a pass from quarterback Tom Brady ahead of Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Robert Golden (21) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jared Wickerham)
FILE - in this Oct. 16, 2016, file photo, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) catches a pass between Cincinnati Bengals safety Derron Smith (31) and linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) during anNFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots play the Seattle Seahawks this week. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Seattle Seahawks safeties Earl Thomas (29) and Kam Chancellor (31) tackle New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski claps after a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, oct. 16, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) completes a reception and runs for 34 yards stretching to the 2 yard line during the 2016 NFL week 5 regular season football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 in Cleveland. The Patriots defeated the Browns 33-13. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
Belichick on Gronkowski: "Well there are a lot of great players in this league and there have been a lot of great players but obviously Gronk does a good job. He competes hard. Nice plays in the passing game, blocks in the running game. Does whatever you ask him to do. A very unselfish player. He's great to coach."
Gronkowski in 2017: Gronkowski is back and healthy and will look to return to the dominant form that has made him one of the most dangerous weapons in the game. As long as he's able to stay on the field, defense still have no answer for his size and skill set.
