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Making the case for Rob Gronkowski to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer

Whenever an all-time great steps away from the game of football, the discussion about his legacy quickly turns towards one topic: the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There is no doubt Rob Gronkowski, who announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday, will end up with one of the famed gold jackets one day. The question, however, is whether or not the former New England Patriots star should be inducted on first ballot.

The short answer? Yes, he should be. The longer answer? Yes, because of the following reasons:

While Gronkowski retires after only nine seasons in the NFL, his numbers are simply mind-boggling for a tight end.