Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski reveals the impact politics has on locker room dynamics

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As time has gone on, politics and sports have continued to merge more closely together in the cultural fabric.

NFL legend Rob Gronkowski played for 11 seasons, from 2010 to 2021, and said that as his career went on, there were more political discussions in the locker room. However, the New England Patriots great said they didn’t have a big impact on the team as many people perceived.

“I would say the conversations and awareness grew but it didn’t really make a significant impact like it wasn’t like skyrocketing like it that it seemed like on the outside. It wasn’t like that in the inside,” Gronkowski told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

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Rob Gronkowski standing in attendance at WrestleMania 42 Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

The four-time Super Bowl champion said the team’s lone goal was to win games, and political discussions were not going to interfere with that.

“It’s not political in the locker room. We’re all together as one, and that’s what it’s all about. And that’s how I believe it should be all about, is that we have one purpose. It was to win games and it was to be the best football team,” Gronkowski said.

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Rob Gronkowski runs with the ball after a catch during an AFC divisional playoff game.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of a recent partnership with eBay, discussed how football is a unifier because everyone’s accepted.

“The politics really never get in the way in the locker room and that’s a good thing and that’s what makes football so great, is that everyone’s accepted. No matter what your culture is, no matter what your political views are, and that’s why I love sports.” Gronkowski said.

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Gronkowski is one of the greatest tight ends of all time. He spent nine seasons with the Patriots before retiring in 2019. He came out of retirement in 2020 and played with the Buccaneers and Tom Brady for two seasons before retiring again.

In 11 seasons, the five-time Pro Bowler caught 621 receptions for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns.

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