Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon has become the latest noteworthy person to mention that retired tight end Rob Gronkowski could potentially save the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

In comments made to TMZ Sports, Moon pointed out that Gronkowski served as a “security blanket” for Tampa Bay quarterback and “best friend” Tom Brady when the two were teammates with both the Buccaneers and New England Patriots. 

“Whenever there’s a key play that needs to be made, especially down in the red zone or whatever — and they had a tough time scoring in the red zone last week — that’s the guy he would usually go to, Rob Gronkowski,” Moon said of Brady and the Buccaneers coming off their 21-3 loss at the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday that dropped Tampa Bay to 3-4 on the season. 

Interestingly, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler remarked for a piece published Wednesday that the Buccaneers seem to “desperately” miss Gronkowski. The lingering issue as it pertains to anyone linking the four-time Super Bowl champion with a return to the Buccaneers is that he’s repeatedly and consistently said he “wouldn’t go back to football” after retiring as an active player for the second time in June. 

There’s currently no indication Gronkowski is having second thoughts about his decision, and the Joe Bucs Fan website noted that NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt suggested on Monday that the 33-year-old likely wants no part of playing for a Buccaneers team that may be a sinking ship heading into Thursday’s home game against the 4-3 Baltimore Ravens.