Rob Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recently shared his thoughts on the Buccaneers’ chances of winning the Super Bowl in 2025, while acknowledging the impact of Baker Mayfield leadership and Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 season prospects. Despite praising Mayfield’s influence, Gronkowski expressed doubts about the team’s ability to reach the championship again soon.
Gronkowski’s last NFL touchdown came during the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl-winning season, where he caught passes from Tom Brady. Since the retirements of both Gronkowski and Brady in 2022, the Buccaneers have found a new leader in Baker Mayfield, who has notably lifted the team’s performance.
Assessing Baker Mayfield’s Performance Amid High Expectations
Mayfield, the former first overall NFL draft pick, delivered a strong season, recording career-highs with 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. His leadership has helped the Buccaneers maintain a competitive stance in the league. The team recently secured the NFC South division title for four consecutive years and averaged nearly 400 yards of offense per game under Mayfield’s direction.
Nevertheless, despite these impressive statistics and team successes, some remain skeptical about the Buccaneers’ ability to claim another Super Bowl title, including Gronkowski himself.
Gronkowski Shares Mixed Outlook on Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl Chances
In a candid exchange during the Dudes on Dudes podcast with Julian Edelman, Gronkowski said,
“I’m not going to say they’re going to make the Super Bowl,”
expressing doubt over the team’s ultimate success in 2025.
He further elaborated,
“They’ve been having a couple of excellent years… I believe they’re going to win their division once again, win a couple playoff games, but I just don’t see them winning it all this year,”
highlighting a belief that the Buccaneers remain strong but not quite at the championship-winning level.
Gronkowski’s Respectful View of Mayfield’s Leadership and Team Impact
While skeptical about the ultimate goal, Gronkowski praised Mayfield’s role in the locker room and the culture he has fostered. Describing Mayfield as a dude’s dude, Gronkowski emphasized the quarterback’s ability to build camaraderie and bring stability.
He remarked,
“He’s a guy you want to go out with, have a cheers with, pound a couple beers, and just tell stories.”
This recognition points to the importance of team unity and leadership beyond on-field talent, qualities Mayfield has brought to the Buccaneers since Brady’s departure.
Context of the Buccaneers’ Recent Performance and Future Outlook
The Buccaneers’ 2024 season concluded with a narrow Wild Card playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, 23–20, underscoring both the team’s potential and areas needing improvement. This result and Gronkowski’s remarks indicate that while the Buccaneers remain competitive within the NFL, they must overcome certain challenges to reclaim past glory.
As a Hall of Famer and franchise icon, Gronkowski’s support for Tampa Bay is unwavering, yet his pragmatic evaluation suggests frustration among some fans and insiders about the team’s progress beyond divisional success and early playoff rounds.
The Road Ahead for Tampa Bay and Mayfield’s Leadership
Despite these doubts, the trust placed in Mayfield by teammates and veterans like Gronkowski reflects confidence in his leadership qualities and the culture he helps maintain. The Buccaneers, coached by Todd Bowles, have demonstrated consistent competitiveness over recent years, making future breakthroughs plausible.
Ultimately, the Buccaneers face the task of translating strong offensive performance and locker-room unity into a deep playoff run. Gronkowski’s comments serve as both a caution and a challenge for Tampa Bay—to prove their critics wrong and reestablish themselves as true Super Bowl contenders.