Former New England Patriots player Rob Gronkowski raises the Lombardi Trophy over his head before the Red Sox home opening game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 09, 2019. AFP / Getty Images North America / Ma
Los Angeles: New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski may have retired from the NFL but he has left a lasting impression in more ways than one.
The Patriots revealed on Wednesday that Gronkowski was responsible for leaving a hefty dent in the Lombardi Trophy given to the team following their Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams in February.
The Patriots' official website posted a video showing Gronkowski damaging the trophy during a recent team appearance at the home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
The 29-year-old, who shocked the NFL by announcing his retirement last month, dented the trophy after using it as a baseball bat as Patriots players waited to take to the field at Fenway Park.
Video of the incident shows Gronkowski using the Lombardi to hit a pitch thrown by team-mate Julian Edelman.
The stunt left a large, baseball-sized dent in the silverware, presented to the team following their sixth Super Bowl win in Atlanta on February 3.
Unlike some other major US sports trophies such as the Stanley Cup, a new Lombardi Trophy is made every year and presented to that season's Super Bowl champions
