Cards
Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski becomes hobby ambassador after ripping packs, entertaining fans
ROSEMONT, Ill.—Prior to Fanatics Fest in 2025, longtime friends Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski met up.
The two former teammates—who captured four Super Bowl rings together during their illustrious NFL careers—didn’t sit down to talk football or even chat about everyday life.
The two future Pro Football Hall of Famers sat in Brady’s New York City apartment and opened packs of trading cards.
Brady got reintroduced to the hobby just a few months earlier when he bought an ownership stake in the card shop CardVault. For Gronkowski, he was ripping his first packs in about 20 years.
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“That was right before I was starting to get into it again, so I really wasn’t sure what I was ripping,” Gronkowski told Sports Collectors Digest in a sit-down interview at this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. “I would say my big moments of getting into it were like the last six months, so I understand getting numbered cards, one-of-ones, refractors, colored cards, all that good stuff.”
Gronkowski made his third straight appearance at this year’s Fanatics Fest NYC in July. Two weeks later, he was on the eBay stage at The National to announce a collaboration with the massive online marketplace. Gronkowski—who is known for his exuberant personality—will be a regular on eBay Live, launching a content series titled “Gronk Geeks Out.”
Chris Costa, managing partner for CardVault by Tom Brady, has known Gronkowski for a long time. He knows the former NFL star will be a great ambassador for the hobby.
“He’s not just an awesome personality and not just a big personality, he’s an awesome guy,” Costa said. “That always makes me excited when a big athlete is authentically getting into the space. For Rob, I obviously think that it checks an additional box in a sense that it’s somebody who is entertaining and exciting and fun, and that’s always a win for the hobby.”
IN HIS ELEMENT
On the eBay stage at The National, Gronkowski ripped packs and revved up the crowd, tossing cards and footballs to fans and even signing a few autographs. The event was right in his wheelhouse.
“I love meeting fans, but I love meeting fans with a purpose,” Gronkowski said. “So, we’re here at eBay Live at The National, and I had the purpose of ripping packs—selling packs to fans and ripping them for them live on eBay Live and then seeing their reaction in person. That is a great way to interact with fans.”
Gronkowski pulled a Brady rookie autograph card from a pack of 2000 Playoff Contenders. The card was immediately sent off for grading. Gronkowski was told if it grades well, it could be worth $100,000-$200,000.
“Absurd,” Gronkowski said. “That doesn’t happen. That’s a miracle. That’s like the 28-3 comeback [in Super Bowl LI]. You didn’t think it was possible, but it happened.”
Gronkowski also ripped a hobby box of 2010 Topps Chrome Football and got his rookie card.
“I got to sign it on the spot and write a little message, ‘First ever Gronk rip.’ That’s the first time I’ve ever [pulled] my own card,” Gronkowski said.
But more than anything, Gronk enjoyed interacting with fans at both The National and Fanatics Fest NYC.
He has been one of the biggest stars at FFNYC for three straight years. In 2004, the former All-Pro tight end made a grand entrance and attracted attention when he tested his hockey skills by firing pucks into a washing machine. In 2025, he famously surprised Brady and others by showing up with an army of Gronk look-a-likes.
He was everywhere in 2026, getting an ice bath on stage with comedian Kevin Hart, playing basketball with fans and getting dunked (by Brady) in a tank of Raising Cane’s chicken sauce. He also signed autographs, posed for selfies and entertained fans at every turn.
“Fans are everything,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the fans, there’s wouldn’t be the NFL, there wouldn’t be The National, there wouldn’t all the ripping of these packs. Fans make the game exciting. You run out of the tunnel and you have 80,000 people cheering for you, that’s what it’s all about. Without the fans, none of this is possible.”
eBay officials were thrilled to have Gronkowski interacting with fans and collectors on stage at eBay Live. His appearance drew one of the largest crowds of the week at the eBay booth.
“It’s incredible,” said Ashish Chhabra, VP and GM, eBay Live. “We have a good partnership with Gronk. We love it. We love the genuine energy and excitement he brings to our shows. He loves the eBay Live interaction and it shows in the way he shows up.”
GRONK THE COLLECTOR
As a kid, Gronkowski was big into collecting cards.
Baseball and hockey were his two favorite sports to collect, but football wasn’t too far behind.
Gronkowski got wrapped up in competing in athletics when he became a teenager and collecting took a back seat. After Gronk—as he is known by his passionate fan base—wrapped up a Hall of Fame-worthy, 11-year career in the NFL, cards crept back into his life.
“As a kid, I collected everything,” said Gronkowski, who recalls being in the hobby from when he was about 5 to 14 years old. “I had no clue about cards. I didn’t know about numbered cards, patches, autographs, really. You just get an autograph as a kid. As a kid, it was all about getting your favorite player.
“I kind of feel like that was my era—everyone around my age, when they were collecting cards, it wasn’t to get the unique one-of-one, it was how many cards can you get of your favorite player. I was a big guy in getting like Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. That was the era of baseball, and those cards were always special for me to get. I have a collection of all those players back home.
“Now, I’m just getting back into it. It’s at its peak. It’s just growing more and more. Just trying to rip a numbered card, a patch card, get an autograph, a one-of-one, that’s what it’s all about now. It’s a totally different strategy from when I was a kid.”
Gronkowski was 11 years old when Brady entered the NFL. He doesn’t recall if he ever owned a Brady card.
How about collecting cards of himself?
That might become a thing when he’s ripping on eBay Live.
“If I get my own card, I’m keeping it, 100%. And I’m signing them—I’m bringing the value up,” Gronkowski joked.
GRONK, BRADY CONNECT
Costa hasn’t had an opportunity to talk to Brady about his thoughts on Gronkowski entering the hobby. But Costa knows Brady will embrace his buddy entering a space he thoroughly enjoys.
“I know Tom obviously loves Rob and they have a great relationship,” Costa said. “Tom and I and Rob have actually ripped cards together. So, I know Tom loves the fact that Rob’s interested in the hobby, because Tom loves the hobby. I think both of us would be super-thrilled and excited to see Rob continue to go deeper and deeper and deeper into collecting.”
Gronkowski agrees that being in the same hobby with Brady will be mutually beneficial.
“It’s actually great for both of us, because we’re both bringing our fan bases to the table. I’m showing my fanbase what it’s all about; he’s showing his fanbase,” Gronkowski said. “We’re expanding the nature of card collecting, I feel like. He’s doing a great job over there with his CardVault company and I’m over here with eBay Live ripping cards. eBay’s the best place to sell and trade cards as well, I believe. I grew up doing eBay.
“It’s just expanding the nature of card collecting, and that’s great for everyone.”
