Sean Payton Recruits Rob Gronkowski to the Broncos During Super Bowl LVII

On Fox's Super Bowl coverage, new Broncos coach Sean Payton recruited future hall of fame tight end Rob Gronkowski to Denver. A photo posted by Payton of a Buff shirt with "G" written across it reads, "Groncos."

Payton has not only mocked Gronkowski before, but it is one of his more recent attempts. Additionally, he tagged former Patriots and Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady who retired this offseason but will soon join FOX as a broadcaster.

Tom Brady

Before Super Bowl LVII, Fox's NFL on Fox pregame show featured Sean Payton and Rob Gronkowski in a skit. The coach shared a picture on Twitter that showed a Broncos shirt with the "B" scratched out and replaced with an "G," spelling out "Groncos."

As Fox's camera crew sent the two coaches into the tunnel, their outfits changed from gray suits to blue suits with orange ties. They laughed that they both donned orange ties as a nod to their game's colors.

Sean Payton has served as head coach of the New Orleans Saints since 2006. During his tenure, they earned eight playoff berths, six NFC South titles, and in 2009 earned their first ever World Championship with a 31-17 victory against Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

He has led the Saints to five AP NFL Coach of the Year awards and his teams finished with an impressive cumulative record of 152-89-0 (.631 winning percentage) over 16 seasons. In 2012, he was suspended for one season due to allegations about running a bounty program that paid players who knocked other competitors out of games.

His coaching career has included experience working under Ray Rhodes, Jim Fassel and Bill Parcells. Additionally, he served as an assistant coach for the Cowboys.

Payton has been a head coach in the National Football League for 24 years, amassing an impressive record of 222-162-1. As head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2006-2021, he remains the only active NFL coach with a career winning percentage over.631 with 154-89-0 record during regular season play and 9-8 mark during playoff games.

After leaving the Saints, Payton spent a year in retirement before joining Fox Sports as an analyst in 2022. Currently, he's an intriguing candidate for head coaching job with Denver Broncos.

Payton, whether or not he accepts the job, is an ideal coach for the Broncos as his success in previous coaching jobs will surely help turn around their struggling offense. While they possess plenty of talent in both offensive line and quarterback positions, they lack quality tight ends. With Payton at their helm, there's no doubt about it: this franchise needs success on offense!

Rob Gronkowski

On Fox's Super Bowl pregame show, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made an interesting attempt at recruiting Rob Gronkowski. He tagged both players in a tweet with the message: "Let the recruitment begin!"

If you're a fan of NFL football, then you likely know about Rob Gronkowski - four-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and five-time Pro Bowl tight end with an impressive list of accomplishments. His legacy should also not be overlooked when considering Hall of Fame consideration for this Hall of Fame candidate.

He was a two-time NFL All-Pro and set numerous records during his career. He holds the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with at least 10 touchdown grabs and ranks among the top tight ends in receiving yards, targets and catches.

As a young athlete, Rob was an impressive success on and off the field. He excelled in track and field as well as baseball, earning himself a spot on Arizona Wildcats' football team.

At Arizona, he became the first tight end in college history to lead their team in receptions and receiving yards during a single season. In 2010, he caught 42 passes for 546 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

After signing with the Patriots in 2010, Gronkowski quickly established himself as an elite receiver and integral part of their offense. In 2011, he had a record-breaking 90 receptions for 1,327 receiving yards, earning him selection to the Pro Bowl that year.

In 2016, his numbers were even better: 97 receptions for 1,525 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. To cap it off, he had an outstanding performance in Super Bowl LV as the Buccaneers pulled away from Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 with six catches for 67 yards and two scores.

Gronkowski's future in the NFL had been uncertain for much of his playing career, yet he remained dedicated to it and remains a fan favorite. In 2020 he announced his retirement but returned to play one more year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped them win another Super Bowl together - this time though it will be his last time donning those cleats.

Sean Payton

At the height of his Super Bowl coverage in Phoenix, Arizona this past week, Sean Payton took an unusual step: He recruited one of his former colleagues to Denver. It's an unprecedented move given Payton's track record with recruiting prominent NFL players before.

On Saturday, Payton tweeted a Broncos shirt with the "B" scratched out and replaced with "G," making it read "Groncos." Additionally, he tagged Rob Gronkowski - who retired after the 2021 season - who retired after playing one season for them.

Though it's a fun and witty way to recruit an ex-teammate for the Broncos, this move does not make financial sense.

Tom Brady, who recently retired from the NFL after an illustrious career, has always been a friend of Payton's. They worked together on FOX in 2022 and will collaborate again for the network in 2024.

Since their Super Bowl triumph four years ago, the Broncos have struggled to compete in the AFC West. After finishing above third place just once in four seasons, they need to turn things around to stay relevant and return home victorious.

This could be an ideal chance for Payton and the Broncos to bolster their draft cupboard with a top player like Rob Gronkowski. While it could be risky, if Payton can convince him to reconsider retiring after the 2022 season, then it could be beneficial for both sides.

However, it's also possible that the Broncos might not be able to afford him at this stage in his career. At 33 years old, he hasn't exactly made the most of his opportunities yet.

However, it appears unlikely that Gronkowski will be available to join the Broncos in 2023 when they are set for another major free agent signing. Even so, if the Broncos do manage to land Gronkowski in 2023, it would be a major victory and an indication of how things have turned around for their team.

No one knows if Payton can find the right player to help him restock Denver's roster, but it is clear they want to change things around at Mile High. They invested a considerable amount into Russell Wilson in 2022, so they need some positive results before they consider making other bold moves during the 2023 NFL draft.

Fox

On Saturday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton attempted to lure one of football's top talent by recruiting Rob Gronkowski to their team during Fox's Super Bowl coverage. In a tweet on Saturday morning, Payton replaced "Broncos" with the word "Groncos," replacing the lettering on his shirt with that of Gronkowski.

Gronkowski is renowned for his talent and was part of the New England Patriots team that won the Super Bowl in 2021. He finished as their third leading receiver behind only Tom Brady and LeGarrette Blount, as well as having an illustrious career as a tight end.

If the Broncos do indeed sign Gronkowski, it could be beneficial for both sides. With a future Hall of Fame player on their roster and Gronkowski being able to continue his lucrative business pursuits, this could be a win-win scenario.

Gronkowski has not ruled out a return to the Broncos, but he does not plan on signing with them anytime soon. However, if Denver becomes an actual contender for the Super Bowl, then Gronkowski might consider joining forces again.

The Broncos possess a wealth of talent on their roster, so it is not impossible that they would consider offering Gronkowski a contract. Unfortunately, his age and recent retirement announcement make it unlikely that this will happen anytime soon.

Though they are still searching for a successful coach, the Broncos will need to attract championship-caliber free agents in order to make their organization more appealing. In order to do this, they must make their organization more inviting.

They can achieve this by recruiting coaches with experience and a successful track record, as well as winning over the team's owners. Furthermore, they should secure an outstanding offensive coordinator and quarterback coach to lead them forward.

In addition to hiring a new head coach, the Broncos need to bolster their front office staff as well. It is an ambitious goal but one that should be strived for by everyone on the team.