Patriots trading Rob Gronkowski to Tom Brady’s Buccaneers in shocking return

Rob Gronkowski is returning to his old quarterback, not his old team. In a shocking move Tuesday, the New England Patriots traded Gronkowski to the Buccaneers, along with a seventh-round pick in this week’s draft, for a fourth-rounder, according to ESPN. The deal came together after Gronkowski alerted the Patriots he wanted to return to …

Rob Gronkowski is returning to his old quarterback, not his old team.

In a shocking move Tuesday, the New England Patriots traded Gronkowski to the Buccaneers, along with a seventh-round pick in this week’s draft, for a fourth-rounder, according to ESPN.

The deal came together after Gronkowski alerted the Patriots he wanted to return to the NFL to play with Tom Brady in Tampa. Gronkowski told Fox Sports he already took a physical with the Buccaneers, which was the only hurdle remaining. ESPN added that Gronkowski took the physical with a neutral doctor in Boston and is awaiting the results, though feels he passed with “flying colors.”

Gronkowski, 30, retired before last season and the Patriots’ offense saw a precipitous falloff without the star tight end as one of the focal points. Gronkowski had one year and $10 million left on his Patriots contract. Gronkowski weighed in at 265 pounds in his playing days, but has looked significantly slimmer in hte past 12 months.

Gronkowski has been coy about his future in his year out of the league, but had refused to close the door on an NFL return.

“I’m feeling good right now,” Gronkowski said this week on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”

“I’m happy where I’m at. You just never know, man. You just never know. You never know. I’m not totally done.”

Gronkowski has tried a bit of everything from a partnership with a CBD oil company to a role as a Fox Sports analyst to a widely-publicized Super Bowl party to a hosting role with WWE at WrestleMania.

A source told The Post’s Andrew Marchand that Gronkowski left Fox Sports under good terms. He joined the network midseason last year and mostly appeared on its pregame shows. After things calm down, Fox and Gronkowski will discuss if he can do some segments this year and both sides have interest in continuing the relationship after Gronkowski stops playing again.

Rob Gronkowski (l) and Tom BradyGetty Images

Now, he is returning to the NFL and to the quarterback he played nine seasons with, including three Super Bowl victories. Gronkowski had 521 catches for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns before stepping away after the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl title victory against the Rams.

Gronkowski was significantly slowed with various injuries that last season, though, with his numbers dropping significantly. The Patriots seemingly only turned to Gronkowski for the biggest moments after spending most of the games as a decoy.

Brady, who will be 43 by the start of next next season, signed a two-year, fully guaranteed $50 million contract with Tampa Bay this offseason.

“Look, I love that guy,” Brady said of Gronkowski last season, while noting that he would not personally recruit him back. “I am so happy that he’s enjoying his time. I am happy that he’s enjoying his life. He seems to really be doing a lot of great things. He knows how I feel about him. I want what is best for him. He’s the only person that can make those decisions. I don’t lobby for those things.

“I have a great relationship with him. He has given actually a hell of a lot to our team already over the course of a long period of time, and I think people should be very appreciative for what he’s brought to the team and what he’s brought to the region. I think he’s a very special guy.”

The Buccaneers have been rumored to be shopping their current starting tight end O.J. Howard and could potentially flip him before Thursday’s draft, which would leave an opening for Gronkowski.

Tampa Bay already boasts one of the top receiving combos in the NFL with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.