Rob Gronkowski spent four Super Bowls catching passes from Tom Brady. On Tuesday, the retired tight end was catching voters' attention outside polling places in New Hampshire — waving a giant American flag and posing for photos as Granite Staters cast their ballots, according to videos circulating on social media.
Videos posted to X showed Gronkowski greeting voters and waving the flag at motorists. Boston 25 News posted footage of the former Patriot at a polling site in Bedford, New Hampshire, where he posed for pictures and encouraged residents to vote. "Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski greets voters at the polls in Bedford, New Hampshire, while encouraging residents to get out and vote," the outlet wrote in its post.
Gronkowski, who has largely avoided politics publicly, was registered as a Republican in Florida, where he appears to currently reside, according to reporting. Turning Point USA has made a major push in New Hampshire this cycle, backing Republican Senate hopeful John Sununu over Democrat Chris Pappas. The organization's chief operating officer, Tyler Bowyer, celebrated the sightings on X: "WOW Rob Gronkowski sightings at New Hampshire polling places! TIME TO GO VOTE."
A spokesperson for Turning Point USA told reporters that Gronkowski was not explicitly there with the group — he walked by their tent and took photos with members. But the timing and the company he kept made the message plain enough. Gronkowski appeared in photos with several Republican candidates in competitive races. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte posted a photo with Gronkowski and his girlfriend, Camille Kostek, at a polling location in Bedford. Henry Giasson, a Republican running for state representative, said Gronkowski signed one of his campaign signs in Goffstown.
"It doesn't matter what side you're voting for; it just matters about you coming out and voting." — Rob Gronkowski, in videos shared on social media Tuesday
Gronkowski wasn't the only sports celebrity turning heads at the polls. Former Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., and former Red Sox All-Star Kevin Youkilis were also seen visiting polling locations across the state, according to the coverage. Amendola and Mayweather are both outspoken Trump supporters who have appeared at MAGA rallies — Mayweather spoke at an October midterm rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, where Trump also wished Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk a posthumous happy birthday, and Amendola campaigned with Trump at an October rally in Corpus Christi, Texas. Youkilis has mostly stayed quiet about his political affiliations but defended the Red Sox champions who visited Trump's White House after their 2018 World Series victory.
Some Granite Staters reported receiving text messages on Monday teasing celebrity visits at certain polling places, though the source of those texts is unclear. Turning Point USA texted about Gronkowski's appearance before the event, according to Blaze Media.
The celebrity presence comes as Turning Point Action, the organization's grassroots arm, has poured resources into New Hampshire. "We're putting the biggest ground force that's ever been put on the ground in New Hampshire for Republicans," Bowyer told CNN in July.
For voters in the Granite State, Tuesday's scene outside polling places was a reminder that this election is drawing star power — and that the culture war over sports and politics has flipped. The same league that once saw players kneel during the anthem now has a four-time champion waving the Stars and Stripes outside a voting booth.
Our Take
For years, the Left told Americans that sports and politics don't mix — unless, of course, the politics were theirs. Kneeling during the anthem was "courage." A tight end waving an American flag outside a polling place is now, suddenly, a controversy. Patriots see right through it.
What Gronkowski did Tuesday wasn't a partisan speech. It was a guy with four Super Bowl rings and a grin the size of New England standing on a sidewalk, holding the flag, and telling people to show up. That's the kind of politics the corporate media can't stand — because it's impossible to smear. There's no scandal in a photo line. There's no racism in a signed campaign sign. There's just an American icon reminding his neighbors that their vote matters.
The Trump-era realignment of sports culture is real, and New Hampshire got a front-row seat. Mayweather, Amendola, Youkilis, Gronk — these aren't Washington consultants. They're the guys Americans grew up watching. When they show up for Election Day, it tells you something the legacy press won't: the silent majority isn't so silent anymore.
So here's the question for every patriot reading this: if Gronk can take time out of his Tuesday to wave the flag outside a polling place, what's your excuse? Get out there. Vote. And if you see a celebrity at your polling site, thank them — then go do the same thing they did: show up for America.
