Rob Gronkowski described the difficult experience of deciding to retire.

"I want to be clear to my fans. I needed to recover. I was not in a good place. Football was bringing me down, and I didn't like it. I was losing that joy in life," Gronkowski said.

Gronkowski is becoming an advocate for players to be allowed to use CBD products for pain relief.

Gronkowski hasn't completely ruled out staying retired. "Physically, I could play right now" but added he is not there mentally.