On Tuesday, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced that future NFL Hall of Fame tight end and New England Patriots icon Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski will serve as Grand Marshal for the 128th Boston Marathon on April 15.
The @BAA is pleased to announce @RobGronkowski will be the #Boston128 Grand Marshal and is the recipient of the 2024 Patriots’ Award. This award is presented to a person or organization who is patriotic, philanthropic, and inspirational, and fosters goodwill and sportsmanship. pic.twitter.com/LNVwWAtvh1
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) March 12, 2024
The four-time Super Bowl champion will kick off the race with a speech in Hopkinton before the 30,000+ entrants from 122 countries make the 42.2 km journey to Boylston Street. Gronkowski will ride in the lead vehicle and will reach the finish shortly before race champions break the finish tape.
Known for his impressive athletic achievements with Tom Brady on the football field, Gronk’s impact in New England and Massachusetts extends far beyond football. Along with his family, Gronk founded the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, which is dedicated to inspiring youth to reach their potential through sports, education, community and fitness. The foundation is currently constructing a “Gronk Playground” on the Charles River Esplanade in Boston’s Back Bay area.
“Giving back has always been a priority in my life. When I first got to New England, Mr. Kraft and the Patriots Foundation ingrained in the team the importance of giving back to the community that gives back to us,” Gronkowski said in a press release. “It’s time for me to give back to help set others up for their own journey.”
Former NHLer Zdeno Chara runs 3:16 marathon to qualify for Boston
The Boston Marathon attracts around 500,000 spectators on the 42.2 km route annually, which should be buzzing for Gronkowski’s presence. During his NFL career, he was known for his humorous, outgoing and larger-than-life personality, so we’re sure he’ll bring that energy to the marathon.
Gronkowski won’t be the only Boston sporting legend at this year’s race—former Bruins hockey captain Zdeno Chara will be taking on his second Boston Marathon, after running 3:38:23 at last year’s race. Chara has improved his marathon time quite a bit over the last 12 months, lowering his personal best to 3:10:24 at the 2024 Houston Marathon, a Boston-qualifying time for his age group.
