NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 27: Rob Gronkowski at a press conference announced he is becoming an advocate for CBD and will partner with Abacus Health Products, maker of CBDMEDIC Topical Pain Products on August 27, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by
Getty Images for CBDMEDIC
Rob Gronkowski revealed what life after football will look like for him on Tuesday, as the former Patriots tight end announced that he has partnered with Abacus Health to launch a line of cannabidiol (CBD) products.
CBD is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp. Gronkowski, speaking at a press conference in New York City, said that such products have been essential to his recovery from a nine-year NFL Hall of Fame career that ended prematurely this past offseason thanks to a myriad of injuries. Now, he wants to get sports leagues, including the NFL, to lighten up when it comes to penalizing athletes for using CBD products.
„For the first time in more than a decade, I am pain-free,” Gronkowski said, noting that CBD products became a part of his life after he retired following the 2018 season. „And that is a big deal.”
Now healthy, Gronkowski’s extensive injury history, in addition to his eccentric nature and superstar status, makes him the ideal spokesperson to bring about change in the NFL and across sports. The tight end had a historic career in New England, but also a painful one. After nine surgeries and more than enough injuries to lose count, Gronkowski deserves the sports world’s undivided attention when he says he’s healthy thanks in part to CBD products.
„[Injuries] took an absolute beating on my mind and my soul. I was hurt both mentally and physically, day in and day out,” Gronkowski said. „I decided to walk away from the game for one reason: I had to recover.”
CBD is not FDA-approved, a certain hurdle in Gronkowski’s efforts to get it off leagues’ lists of restricted substances. CBD is on the NFL’s banned substances list — continuing to use the products would result in a suspension for Gronkowski if he wanted to return to football, something he didn’t rule out.
He said playing again was something to consider down the road if his body would allow it.
„When that time comes down in the future, if I have the desire to play football again, if I feel passionate about football again, if I’m feeling like I need to go back on the field, I will go back to football,” the 30-year-old said. „But as of right now, that is not the case. It could be the case in six months, it could be the case in two years, it could be the case in three years, it could be the case in three months.”
While there would surely be droves of fans eager to see Gronkowski on the gridiron again — there’s no doubt he can still be an offensive force, too — continuing down the CBD path he’s on could have a far greater impact. At a time when the dangers of football and opioids are both increasingly in the spotlight, Gronkowski’s new endorsement could bring about change and awareness for people on and off the field.
Gronkowski is not the first athlete to praise CBD and similar products as a substitute for painkillers, but he is arguably the most recognizable name to do so thus far. His resume, including his injury history, and personality make him the perfect advocate as a growing number of athletes try to make CBD products mainstream in sports.
If Gronkowski keeps at this with a full court press, leagues like the NFL won’t have a choice but to listen to him. It sounds like he plans to — at least for the time being.
„I truly don’t see [playing again] in the foreseeable future, in like a week or a month,” Gronkowski said. „No, I want to do a different chapter of my life right now.”