Rob Gronkowski made Tom Brady throw him one final pass to capture $1m bonus
Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season is upon us, and there are plenty of stars hoping for a payday. The final game of the season offers players one last chance to hit their contract bonuses and for some, there are millions of dollars on the line. Evans will be playing for a huge bonus on SundayGetty Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans can secure a massive $3million bonus with 85 yards and five receptions against the New Orleans Saints. He will also tie Jerry Rice for an NFL record. If he is successful, Evans won’t be the first Tampa Bay star to hit a big bonus on the final day. Legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski was able to cash in at the end of the 2021-22 season – and it’s fair to say he owes a lot to Tom Brady. Gronk managed to win four Super Bowls with the GOAT quarterback orchestrating his offenses in both New England and Tampa. But because of TB12’s selflessness, he is also $1m richer. During the Buccaneers’ final regular-season game of the 2021/2022 season against the Carolina Panthers, Brady refused to leave the field in order to help Gronk achieve his incentive bonuses. Gronkowski went into the game with the chance of hitting $1 million in bonuses – all he needed was seven catches and 85 receiving yards to trigger two separate bonuses of $500,000 each. The TE eventually hit the yardage bonus by the second half with a 42-yard catch but had just under seven minutes to register one more catch. While talking about his incentive on the sidelines with a Buccaneers’ staff member, Gronk joked, “If I don’t get the seventh catch, I have to go get a real job”. Gronk needed seven catches and 85 receiving yards to trigger the bonusesTikTok@NFL He made the lucrative catch after a Brady pass in the fourth quarterTikTok@NFL Gronk celebrated his win with teammatesTikTok@NFL At that point, the Bucs were ready to bench their starters with the NFC’s No. 2 seed already locked up, but Brady insisted on staying in the game to help his teammate scoop the full $1m jackpot. Cameras caught Brady yelling to his coaches that he was carrying on playing instead of having backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert replace him. Brady grabbed his helmet before connecting with Gronk on a quick pass – and it was the 55th reception he needed to unlock his full bonus. Gronk finished with seven catches for 137 yards – plus an extra $1m – as the Bucs won the game, 41-17. The 5x Pro Bowler later joked how he was going to treat his teammates to a slap-up meal – except Brady. “I’m going to have to bring out all the tight ends to dinner. A couple of the quarterbacks — I don’t bring Tom out, I’ll bring the backups out to dinner,” he told reporters. Brady and Gronk shared an incredible relationship on the fieldGetty The victory ensured the Bucs finished the season with a 13-4 record. They beat the Eagles in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs before losing to eventual Super Bowl winner Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. Gronk announced his retirement from the sport later that summer, but thanks to Brady he was at least riding off into the sunset $1m better off.
Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season is upon us, and there are plenty of stars hoping for a payday.
The final game of the season offers players one last chance to hit their contract bonuses and for some, there are millions of dollars on the line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans can secure a massive $3million bonus with 85 yards and five receptions against the New Orleans Saints.
He will also tie Jerry Rice for an NFL record.
If he is successful, Evans won’t be the first Tampa Bay star to hit a big bonus on the final day.
Legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski was able to cash in at the end of the 2021-22 season – and it’s fair to say he owes a lot to Tom Brady.
Gronk managed to win four Super Bowls with the GOAT quarterback orchestrating his offenses in both New England and Tampa.
But because of TB12’s selflessness, he is also $1m richer.
During the Buccaneers’ final regular-season game of the 2021/2022 season against the Carolina Panthers, Brady refused to leave the field in order to help Gronk achieve his incentive bonuses.
Gronkowski went into the game with the chance of hitting $1 million in bonuses – all he needed was seven catches and 85 receiving yards to trigger two separate bonuses of $500,000 each.
The TE eventually hit the yardage bonus by the second half with a 42-yard catch but had just under seven minutes to register one more catch.
While talking about his incentive on the sidelines with a Buccaneers’ staff member, Gronk joked, “If I don’t get the seventh catch, I have to go get a real job”.
At that point, the Bucs were ready to bench their starters with the NFC’s No. 2 seed already locked up, but Brady insisted on staying in the game to help his teammate scoop the full $1m jackpot.
Cameras caught Brady yelling to his coaches that he was carrying on playing instead of having backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert replace him.
Brady grabbed his helmet before connecting with Gronk on a quick pass – and it was the 55th reception he needed to unlock his full bonus.
Gronk finished with seven catches for 137 yards – plus an extra $1m – as the Bucs won the game, 41-17.
The 5x Pro Bowler later joked how he was going to treat his teammates to a slap-up meal – except Brady.
“I’m going to have to bring out all the tight ends to dinner. A couple of the quarterbacks — I don’t bring Tom out, I’ll bring the backups out to dinner,” he told reporters.
The victory ensured the Bucs finished the season with a 13-4 record.
They beat the Eagles in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs before losing to eventual Super Bowl winner Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.
Gronk announced his retirement from the sport later that summer, but thanks to Brady he was at least riding off into the sunset $1m better off.
