High expectations await as the former All-Pro tight end came out of retirement after one year to join the -- and reunite with good friend . Gronkowski already has his Hall of Fame resume sealed, but he can add to his legacy as one of the best tight ends to ever play the game with a strong finish in Tampa.Gronkowski isn't the first high-profile NFL player to be lured out of retirement, and he likely won't be the last. Former NFL greats who returned to the game after officially retiring have typically performed at a high level, even in their mid-to-late 30s. Gronkowski is just 31 years old and still in his prime, so a good season or two may be ahead if he can stay healthy.These 10 NFL greats didn't need to return to football, but each had reasons to return and played at a high level in their second NFL life. Here are the 10
Ricky Rubio Jersey best NFL returns by players who had retired from the league:10. Reggie WhiteWhite shockingly returned to the NFL after retiring as a First Team All-Pro and finishing with 16 sacks with the in 1998 -- at 36 years old. The were looking to bolster their pa s rush and lured White out of retirement in 2000, signing him to a five-year deal. White finished with a career-low 5.5 sacks, even though he started all 16 games at 38 years old. Not bad considering he signed in late July, when Panthers training camp was set to begin. He actually finished second on the team in sacks.White retired for good after the season as the NFL's all-time sacks leader with 198 (which Bruce Smith surpa sed in 2003).9. Ricky WilliamsShocking the NFL by retiring in his prime, Williams had tested positive for marijuana for a second time and was facing a four-game suspension. Using the time to "find himself," Williams studied Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine, for a year before deciding to return. Williams started just three games in his first season back in 2005 with the Dolphins, rushing for 743 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. He failed a drug test for a fourth time, and was suspended for the entire 2006 season -- playing for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts to stay in football shape.Williams rushed for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009 at the age of 32 (despite only starting seven games). After a 2007 season which he had to apply for reinstatement to the league, Williams didn't mi s a game in the last four years of his career.He rushed for 3,655 yards and 25 touchdowns in the six seasons
Mike Conley Jersey following his retirement. Williams wasn't the same player that took over the league in his first five seasons. 8. Harrison initially retired with the at 36 years old in 2014, but wasn't away from the NFL for long. Thanks to injuries piling up on the Steelers defense, Harrison was lured out of retirement weeks later. He started just four games, but finished with 5.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits in 11 games.Harrison never made a Pro Bowl in the four years after his return, even though he was the emotional leader on the Steelers defense. He recorded 15.5 sacks and 38 quarterback hits with two interceptions in a part-time role with Pittsburgh the first three seasons back, all in his late 30s.The Steelers played Harrison just 29 snaps in the first 12 games of the 2017 season, leading to his release in December of that year. The 39-year-old Harrison signed a contract with the Steelers arch-rival, the , days later and had two sacks in his first game with the team, a Week 17 win over the
Miye Oni Jersey . Harrison started Super Bowl LII and played 91% of the snaps, finishing with two quarterback hits against the . He retired after the 2017 season, recording 17.5 sacks and 42 quarterback hits since returning at 36 years old.7. Deion SandersHard to believe Sanders played at a high level at 37 years old, mi sing three seasons after retiring from the NFL in 2000. Sanders still had an itch to play and something to prove. Sanders actually was claimed off waivers by the San Diego in 2002 when Washington released him from the reserve/retired list, but it was too late for him to be activated so he never played a game for the franchise.Ray Lewis helped lure Sanders out of retirement in 2004 when he signed with the , playing the slot after a decade as one of the best outside cornerbacks in the game. Sanders played in just nine games his first season back, but finished with three interceptions and had five pa ses defensed. He also returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown in Week 7 against the , tying Ken Houston and Aeneas Williams for second place in interception returns for touchdowns in league history. Sanders played two years in Baltimore, finishing with five interceptions and 10 pa ses defensed in 25 games, retiring for good at 38. There aren't many cornerbacks who played well in their late 30s, but Sanders was one of them.6. Randall CunninghamHard to make a top 10 list without mentioning Cunningham's ma sive return to the NFL. After the Philadelphia Eagles released Cunningham and the St. Louis failed to sign him, Cunningham walked away from the game at 33.Cunningham, who was a studio analyst for TNT and ran a granite busine s, signed with the in 1997 as Dennis Green needed a backup quarterback. The former Bert Bell award winner had plenty of game left in him. Cunningham earned the starting job in Week 15 of the 1997 season and led the Vikings to a thrilling 23-22 overtime win over the in the NFC Wild Card round, conducting two late scoring drives in the win. The 1998 season was Cunningham's best in the NFL, as he threw for 3,704 yards and 34 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions to lead the
Justin Wright-Foreman Jersey Vikings to a 15-1 record. Cunningham threw four touchdown pa ses in four separate games and led the NFL with a 106.0 pa ser rating, earning First Team All-Pro honors at the age of 35. He threw for 505 yards and five touchdowns in two playoff games, but the Vikings were shocked in overtime by the in the NFC Championship Game, thanks to a mi sed 38-yard field goal by Gary Anderson -- who hadn't mi sed a kick all year.Cunningham never recaptured that 1998 magic and lost his starting job in 1999, but played three more years as a backup quarterback. He signed a one-day contract to retire with the Eagles in 2002. Cunningham threw for 7,102 yards and 57 touchdowns to 29 interceptions following his return.5. Ed "Too Tall" JonesEd "Too Tall" Jones retired from the NFL at 28 after the 1978 season to pursue a boxing career. He actually went unbeaten in his six fights, but wasn't considered a true heavyweight contender. Jones returned to the in 1980 with his best years ahead of him. Boxing made Jones a better football player, as the Cowboys legend made three Pro Bowls and was
Dante Exum Jersey a First Team All-Pro selection once in the 10 seasons after his return. Sacks weren't an official stat until 1982, but Jones recorded 57.5 of them in the eight seasons they were official -- all after the age of 31. Jones mi sed just one game since returning to football and finished with 13 sacks in 1985
