Rob Gronkowski calls AJ Brown the 'X factor' to put Patriots back in Super Bowl contention

A.J. Brown is already putting in work with his New England Patriots teammates after months of trade rumors led to the Philadelphia Eagles finally shipping the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to Foxborough.

It’s a marriage that both sides were seeking, with Brown’s frustrating 2025 campaign coming to an end with a Wild Card Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers at home. Now, he slots right in as the team’s top receiver with Stefon Diggs out after just one year.

The Patriots are the reigning AFC champions, though they were unable to notch another ring after the Seattle Seahawks beat them in Super Bowl LX earlier this year. But they’re hoping the addition of Brown, to go along with their young, dynamic roster, is what they need to get back.

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One Patriots legend believes he is the key to at least getting them back in contention.

"I think he’s going to be the X factor to put the Patriots back into contention of being in the Super Bowl," Rob Gronkowski, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, told Fox News Digital, while highlighting his partnership with Ryde: "I mean, it’s so hard to claim you’re going to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl. But I would say he’s the X factor of getting them in contention of being Super Bowl contenders again.

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"That’s all you can ask for going into the preseason. That’s all you can ask for going into the season, there’s no doubt about that. To go back to the Super Bowl, you’ve got to upgrade your roster, and no doubt A.J. Brown is the upgrade that they needed."

"Gronk" has already been brought up when it comes to Brown in a Patriots uniform, although they don’t play the same positions. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who utilized Gronkowski extremely well during their time together in New England, said recently that Brown is the "closest thing" he’s ever seen to Gronkowski.

"There’s a force to the way he plays the game…maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is Gronk," McDaniels told reporters earlier this month. "This is a big guy."

Brown’s ability to win contested catches has been a calling card of his, and why he has consistently said he’s always open even if a defender is draped all over him. That physical play is something the Patriots can utilize, as well as Brown’s route-running prowess that has led to four straight seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving.

Gronkowski also saw a change in the Patriots when they landed a receiver named Randy Moss in 2007, which the tight end also sees a key similarity with.

"The only similarity I would say he has to Randy Moss – they’re two totally different players. Built totally different," Gronkowski explained. "But both great No. 1 wide receivers. They kinda had a down year – I wouldn’t really say a down year. And then they both wanted to go to the New England Patriots. That’s the similarity I see between Randy Moss and A.J. Brown.

"I think he’s going to be really focused. This is a dream team for him. He’s always been a fan of the New England Patriots, even when he was on the Philadelphia Eagles. He came out and admitted it as well. So, I think he’s going to be tuned in and ready to go. He’s young enough still to give it his all, go out there and produce at the highest level.

"It was a huge upgrade, a huge get for the Patriots. I really like the move."

Quality sleep is a must for Gronk

It was back in high school where Gronkowski realized how underrated quality sleep was for a budding athlete. He needed to take naps before every basketball game he played after school, and it was a habit that followed him throughout college and into his professional football career.

After all, someone like Gronkowski, an animal on and off the field, needs to be well rested and recovered to keep at it all these years.

It’s why Gronkowski was excited to partner with Ryde: the functional well-being brand, and help preach how good their new, two-ounce SLEEP wellbeing shot is for users looking to fall asleep faster at night, while supporting sleep quality.

"It just fits my lifestyle," Gronkowski said. "It’s a very organic opportunity that aligns with my daily goals. It’s all about being balanced. It’s all about the recovery as well, and that’s what this SLEEP shot does for me. You gotta get sleep if you want to recover, if you want to go hard all day, and you want to do it again the next day and the next day. You gotta get your sleep and that’s why Ryde: SLEEP comes into play to help me recover."

Between the SLEEP and fan-favorite FOCUS shots, Gronkowski knows he’s putting natural ingredients in his body, emphasizing that he’s "all about natural." SLEEP uses melatonin, GABA, L-theanine and chamomile to help users unwind, and Gronkowski finds it perfect for his daily routine.

"This is my first time really talking about being a sleep advocate and I truly believe in it," he said. "I always took naps because I believe in sleep that much. If I get a full night’s sleep, I don’t need to really take naps as much. That’s where Ryde: SLEEP comes into play. I can sleep through a whole night and be ready to go the next day."

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