Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski shared a memorable story about his late teammate Ryan Mallett. Gronkowski recounted a moment during the 2011 AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Denver Broncos when Mallett challenged him. The quarterback told Gronkowski that he would score three touchdowns in the game and instructed him to do a 3-point shot celebration after the third one.
During the game, Gronkowski scored three touchdowns in the first half, as Mallett had predicted. Following his third touchdown, Gronkowski did the 3-point shot celebration as Mallett had advised. The Patriots went on to win the game against the Broncos with a score of 45-10.
Mallett was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft and spent three seasons with the team before being traded to the Houston Texans in 2014. He later played for the Texans and the Baltimore Ravens before tragically drowning while swimming in Destin in June of 2023 at the age of 35. The bond between Gronkowski and Mallett on and off the field was evident in the story, showcasing the camaraderie between teammates in the NFL.