Former professional football tight end Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski is gearing up for a second shot at Super Bowl Sunday glory, a year after narrowly missing a 25-yard field goal attempt in a FanDuel betting promotion “Kick of Destiny.”
If successful this second time, the four-time Super Bowl champion could net fans a share of $10 million in bonus bets, which he failed to do last year. Speaking at a press conference on Radio Row in Las Vegas, Gronkowski stressed feeling less pressure this time around.
“I’m not going to miss again,” Gronkowski said. “I feel more confident, because where I started last year it was embarrassing.”
Preparation and setback
Despite receiving guidance from kicker Adam Vinatieri leading up to last year’s Super Bowl, Gronk’s attempt still fell short. His failure to net them the promised Fanduel bonus disappoints many fans.
Gronkowski, formerly with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, once served as a kickoff specialist for his high school team in Western New York. He is known for being a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time First Team All-Pro selection before retiring in 2021 after playing for 143 games.
Gronkowski participated in the popular Punt, Pass, and Kick competition during his youth football days. He often showcased his kicking skills with his toe, as he revealed to FanDuel TV’s Kay Adams.
Last year, Gronk adopted a “soccer-style” approach for the “Kick of Destiny.” He honed a technique using the side of his foot, aiming for what he described as a “perfect angle” strike, delivering one of his most forceful kicks ever.
However, an unexpected gust of wind diverted the ball, causing it to veer left. Conditions are expected to be more favorable this Sunday in Las Vegas, with winds forecasted as “light and variable.”
Andrew Sneyd, FanDuel Group’s executive vice president of marketing, played a crucial role in crafting the “Kick of Destiny” marketing campaign. Following Gronk’s missed kick, Sneyd talked to the dejected player, who swiftly dropped to the ground and clutched his helmet.
“He looked up and said, ‘Andrew, we have to do this again,’” Sneyd said to Sports Handle on Thursday, recounting the event. “I think it would have been more challenging to tell him that we weren’t going to have a kick of redemption.”
Sneyd noted that FanDuel’s brand experienced a 10-point increase in share due to the campaign’s success.
Respect for kickers
When Sports Handle questioned on Wednesday whether he has cultivated empathy for kickers in high-pressure situations, Gronkowski replied that he has “so much respect for this guys.”
“It’s a craft, it’s an art to be able to kick,” Gronkowski said. “I feel for them; it’s a tough job and, on top of it, they are doing it with the game on the line.”
For the “Kick of Destiny,” FanDuel offers customers the choice to join either “Team Make” or “Team Miss,” with a bonus bet awaiting those who correctly predict the outcome. According to FanDuel data, approximately 75 percent of participants have selected the “yes” option as of Thursday.
FanDuel plans to broadcast the event live from an undisclosed location in the Las Vegas Valley on Sunday. Gronk, who has been practicing for this year’s kick, mentioned on Wednesday that he has successfully connected on about 85 percent of his attempts.
Despite aiming for another 25-yard attempt, Gronk revealed he has managed to nail a few from distances of at least 40 yards.