Early Life of Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski was raised in the nearby town of Williamsville after being born in Amherst, New York, on May 14, 1989.

He is the second youngest son of Gordon Gronkowski and Diane Walters, and is of Polish descent through his father.

He is a great-grandson of Ignatius Gronkowski who represented the United States in cycling at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, and held five world records in the sport.

His father is a former college football guard for Syracuse University from 1977 to 1981 and later founded a high-end fitness equipment business

Gronkowski's parents divorced in 2008. His four brothers Gordie, Dan, Chris and Glenn all played collegiate sports, and later played professionally.

Gronkowski played hockey until he was 14; he then started playing basketball.

He attended Williamsville North High School (WNHS) for his first three years of high school, playing tight end and defensive end, as well as freshman kickoff specialist, supposedly due to his having the biggest feet on the team; center in basketball; and first baseman in baseball for the WNHS Spartans.

As a junior playing football, he recorded 36 receptions for 648 yards and seven touchdowns on offense, and 73 tackles and six sacks on defense. He was named an All-Western New York first-team and All-State second-team player.

Academically, Gronkowski was in the National Honor Society, citing math as his best subject, and English the worst

In 2006, Gronkowski moved to suburban Pittsburgh, where he attended Woodland Hills High School for his senior year.