Rob Gronkowski Pranks Fox NFL Crew With Fake Segment

Rob Gronkowski is ready for whatever the “Fox NFL Sunday” crew throws at him, even fake segments about fictional football players.

That’s what happened to the four-time Super Bowl champion on a previous workday, with the team pregame Sunday recapping how they goaded Gronkowski into discussing a nonexistent Cowboys tight end named Rich Russo .

“He thought we were going to air an extra segment. Everyone at Fox knows it’s not real – except Gronk,” explained Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer. “The premise was I was going to ‘break the news’ that the Cowboys were activating this big Pro Bowl tight end that doesn’t exist and Gronk has to go on what he thinks is live television to talk about this tight end. .”

The Fox team of Gronkowski, Glazer, Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Howie Long and Curt Menefee are then introduced on set, with Strahan suggesting they should discuss Russo next.

Glazer then talks about Russo’s activation while Gronkowski — who played tight end for the Patriots and Buccaneers for 11 seasons — remains silent while his co-hosts promote the ghost player.

“It’s important because Russo is a total game changer, he takes so much pressure off (Cowboys quarterback) Dak (Prescott), takes so much pressure off the running game, great blocker, great receiver.” , Strahan gushes as Gronkowski takes in the information. .

Menefee then embarrasses Gronkowski, asking him where he ranks a player of Russo’s caliber among the league’s tight ends.

“Um, he’s been out for a little while so he might be a little rusty coming back, but I think they’re going to give him some opportunities, for sure, but they also have (tight end Jake) Ferguson too, so they’re going to be a 1-2 combo,” he said.

While Gronkowski congratulated Ferguson, Brashaw turned the conversation back to Russo.

“He’s the only guy in the league who’s missing two fingers on his right hand, that’s why he’s been out, and he’s back now,” the Steelers great said. Gronkowski added: “So, is it going to affect him when he catches a pass?

Gronkowski continued the conversation while his colleagues dropped their poker faces, bursting into laughter when Menefee revealed the ruse.

“Wow! I was wondering,” said a clearly shocked Gronkowski. “I was going to say, right when it was done, ‘Guys, I’ve never heard of Rich Russo in my life.'”

Gronkowski said on Sunday’s show how the crew was “spinning” and that he learned two things from the ordeal.

“That I’m a funny guy and number two, that I’m always ready,” he joked.

Gronkowski originally joined Fox Sports in 2019 after his initial retirement from the NFL.

He teamed up with the network again in 2022 after calling it a career following the 2021 season.