As he spoke to reporters in the moments after Super Bowl LIII, Rob Gronkowski sounded elated, exhausted, inspired and (perhaps surprisingly) a little but philosophical.
"It was the most satisfying year I have ever been a part of," he said after the Patriots battled through a 13-3 victory over the Rams. "How we came together. The obstacles we had to overcome … it was life. We went through life this year."
A transcribed quote cannot do justice to the stirring mix of bittersweet passion and deep weariness in Gronkowski's voice, expression and gestures that night.