You've probably seen the photo on social media.
As Ohio State prepared to face Michigan in 2006, future four-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro Rob Gronkowski stood in front of Ohio Stadium's south stands, looking like he had seen better days.
In an appearance on the Green Light podcast with his former New England Patriots teammate Chris Long, Gronkowski discussed the photo with Long and his co-host Beau Allen, explaining that "water" made his experience at the "Game of the Century" less than enjoyable.
The lore behind one of Gronks most legendary photos pic.twitter.com/7eygxbsTWm
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) April 7, 2025
"This is a special moment," Gronkowski said. "You're the first person to ever ask me about this photo, even though this photo has surfaced on the internet like 50 different times. You're the very first person to ask me about it."
Allen asked Gronkowski to explain the photo in detail.
"I went to Ohio State for a visit. I think it was right after my season in high school, so I'm freelancing. I don't have to worry about getting back and being on point," Gronkowski said. "My two very good friends went to The Ohio State University. They are a year older than me, so they are already in college. I'm like, 'Oh, perfect. I'll take a visit to Ohio State, go out with my buddies the night before and then go to the game.' We go out until like 2 or 3 a.m. to some frat houses, playing Beer Pong, all that good stuff. I'll just say I was drinking water because I was only 18 years old at the time, so it was just water. But I was feeling good off the water."
As Gronkowski continued, the five-time Pro Bowler explained that he and his friends got into two brawls and "threw a couple of haymakers." Gronkowski said he was on the winning side of both fights, calling them "fun."
However, fun is the last word Gronkowski would use to describe the following morning.
"I wake up, and I'm feeling like a disaster. I go to the game and someone takes a picture of me looking like that," he said. "All that water that I drank got me feeling like that."
Ohio State was one of seven offers Gronkowski received out of high school, according to 247Sports. The Pittsburgh native ultimately chose to attend Arizona over Ohio State, as well as Clemson, Syracuse, Maryland, Penn State and Pitt.
Gronkowski appeared in 22 games for the Wildcats in 2007 and 2008, collecting 75 receptions for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns. Although he did not play during the 2009 season due to a back injury, the New England Patriots selected him with the No. 42 overall pick in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He went on to have an 11-year career with the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, collecting 621 receptions for 9,826 yards and 92 touchdowns.
