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Boston Marathon

Patriots’ Great Rob Gronkowski Gets Boston Marathon Grand Marshall Gig

Author Carolyn Kruse

All I can say is, what great casting! A larger than life personality and New England sports hero serving as the “grand poo-bah” of one of Boston’s more cherished events is perfection. The news just broke and I’m happy to share it. Patriots’ great, Rob Gronkowski, gets the Boston Marathon Grand Marshall gig for 2024.

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and it’s known worldwide as one of the best road races. WCVB Channel 5 broke the exciting news earlier today, just a little over a month away from the April 15 race. This will be the 128th running of the Boston Marathon. Last year, Red Sox legend David “Big Papi” Ortiz, served as the Grand Marshall.

The Grand Duties

So, what are Gronk’s duties as the big cheese on Marathon Monday? According to the article from WCVB, “Gronkowski will tour down the marathon course from Hopkinton to Boston to deliver the champions’ trophy to the finish line ahead of the winners on Monday, April 15.” Nothing too demanding, like running the course would certainly be. But it’s certainly a great fit for the Patriots’ great.

Also mentioned in the news article was the fact that the Boston Athletic Association, who presents the Marathon, has awarded Gronkowski this year’s Patriots’ Award. The award is given to a “person or organization who is patriotic, philanthropic and inspirational, and fosters goodwill and sportsmanship.”

The 4 time Super Bowl winner earned 3 of his rings as the Patriots’ tight end. But he has much more than just football ties with New England. Did you know he and his family created the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation? The charitable organization was set up to inspire kids to “reach their maximum potential through sports, education, community and fitness,” according to WCVB. Right now, the Foundation is busy building the Gronk Playground, located on the Charles River Esplanade.

A big congrats to the big boy, Patriots’ great Rob Gronkowski who gets the Boston Marathon Grand Marshall gig this year.

RELATED:

Here's A List Of The Boston Sports Icons Who Have Taken Out Full Page Newspaper Ads

  • Bill Belichick Most Recently

    On February 4, 2024, Bill Belichick took out a full page ad in the Boston Globe. It was a letter addressed to Patriots fans everywhere. My favorite quote from the goodbye is when he said, “Nowhere in America are pro sports fans as passionate as in New England and for 24 years, I was blessed to feel your passion and power.”

    The newspaper letter ended with Coach Belichick writing in all capital letters “THANK YOU ALL” and finished “with respect and admiration” and his signature.

    No, no Bill. Thank YOU! We will miss you here in New England.

    Ben Volin on Twitter: "Page A3 of today's @BostonGlobe: A thank you letter from Bill Belichick to fans. Tremendous pic.twitter.com/6ugTBV82hk / Twitter"

    Page A3 of today's @BostonGlobe: A thank you letter from Bill Belichick to fans. Tremendous pic.twitter.com/6ugTBV82hk

  • Robert Kraft Bought One For Tom Brady IN TAMPA!

    This was legendary. But Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, bought a full page ad in the Tampa Bay Times. It was a “thank you” to Tom Brady. Tom had just left the Patriots for the Buccaneers. Here’s part of what the letter said. “Thank you, Tom, for your countless contributions to the New England Patriots, and we wish you and your beautiful family continued success.”

    Kraft ended the letter by saying, “To the Buccaneers fans and Tampa Bay community=take care of him. You got a great one.”

    Kraft family to Brady in Tampa Bay Times newspaper ad: 'THANK YOU TOM'

    The Kraft family purchased a full-page advertisement in Sunday's Times. See it in full here.

  • Josh McDaniels Took Out An Ad When He Was The OC For The Pats

    Josh McDaniels spent 21 years with the Patriots as their offensive coordinator. He left in 2022 to take a head coaching job with the Raiders. In his letter to New England fans he wrote, “Two decades here have given me a magnificent wife, 4 magnificent kids and 6 Super bowl rings. Through school carpools, club sports, my kids’ friendships, Nor’easters, the pandemic and my crazy schedule, you’ve always been there for us. You drew a perfect picture of what ‘HOME’ for an NFL football coach should be.”

    Josh McDaniels bids farewell to Patriots, calls fans 'the epitome of resilience and the definition of support' - The Boston Globe

    McDaniels acknowledged what he called the "3 goats" he had a chance to work with in Belichick, Kraft, and Brady in his 21 years with New England, but he saved some of his fondest words for Patriots' fans, both on and off the field.

  • Ray Allen Thanked Celtics Fans When He Left For Miami

    In 2012, Ray Allen left the Boston Celtics to go to the Miami Heat as a free agent. But before he left Boston he wrote a heartfelt letter in the Boston Globe. In the ad he wrote, “We have loved living in this city, being members of the Celtics family and being part of your community. These memories will be cherished forever.”

    He ended the letter with, “From my heart, THANK YOU Boston for this incredible journey.”

    Ray Allen thanks Celtics fans with full-page newspaper ad

    Ray Allen thanked Boston fans for his five years in the city and "an incredible journey." (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images) Without question there are some

  • Celtics Took Out Their Own Ad To Thank Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce

    On the other hand, the Boston Celtics organization took out a full page ad to thank two of their star players- Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. In 2013, Pierce and Garnett were traded to the Brooklyn Nets. It was a move that shocked Bostonians. The full page ad was short and to the point. It read in poem form:

    Thank you/For your heart/For your passion/For your sacrifice/For Playing through the pain/For bleeding green/For honoring tradition/For an amazing ride/For restoring Celtic Pride/For banner 17

    Celtics thank Paul Pierce, KG with full-page ad in Globe

    The Celtics have offered a public thanks to Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett with a full-page ad in Friday's Boston Globe sports section.

  • Red Sox Honored Big Papi

    In 2016, David Ortiz played his final game as a Red Sox. And man, didn’t he give us some incredible years? The Red Sox organization took out a full page ad. It was short and sweet with a photo of the back or Ortiz’s jersey. Part of the thank you read, “Over 116 seasons, nearly 2000 players have worn a Red Sox uniform. You stand alone. You carried a team on your back & a city in your heart.”

    LOOK: Red Sox take out newspaper ad thanking David Ortiz

    Big Papi's about to play his final regular season home game

Born and raised at Country 1025. Carolyn is a concert-lovin’ country music fan. Plus, an avid New England sports fan. Count Kruser in for standup comedy, movies, and cosmos, but family is #1 for her. Wife, mother of 2- plus Zoey the dog, unpaid cook, cleaner and organizer of chaos. Kruser likes to write about country music, New England lifestyle and trending topics.
Author Carolyn Kruse
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