Rob Gronkowski, shown at the Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony for Tom Brady a couple of years ago, will have his own ceremony in a couple of months as the fans voted hiim into the Pats HOF, it was announced Wednesday. (AP photo)

Rob Gronkowski missed his Hall Call.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft called Gronkowski Tuesday but the former Pats tight end missed it. He finally listened to the message that night, and it impacted him more than any other has recently.

It was Kraft letting him know he had been the fans choice to be the next inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

“I started tearing up a little bit.,” Gronkowski said. I mean, it’s just such a prestigious honor to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, especially as a first ballot. And to do it after so many others have led the way. Tom [Brady] two years ago, Julian [Edelman] last year. You got the Teddy Bruschi’s, the Willie McGinest’s. Just so many guys that are just so great, and to be in the same category as them is just an absolute honor. There’s no doubt about that. But when I listened to the voicemail last night, it was a very special one that. I’m going to keep the voicemail forever. It’s one of the only few voicemails I’ll keep for the rest of my life.”

Gronkowski was voted in over two other finalists, former Patriots placekicker Adam Vinatieri and guard Logan Mankins. Ironically, Vinatieri will be inducted this August into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But Gronkowski, who played a decade later, was not only immensely popular, he was immensely productive, playing nine seasons with the team (2010-18) and winning three Super Bowl rings with New England. He totaled 521 receptions for 7,861 yads and 79 TDs. His 80 TDs (one rushing) rank him first in team history and his receiving yardage is second. In 2011, he set the single season NFL touchdown record for a tight end with 17.

“Well, as a player, there’s no doubt about it that I want to be viewed as a football player, not even just a tight end or a guy that catches passes, catches touchdowns,” Gronkowski said. “I want to be viewed as a football player. The definition of a football player, someone that goes out and puts their body on the line at any given time, someone that plays the game at full speed on any given play and makes the big plays in crucial moments when your number is called. 

“That’s the type of guy I want to be remembered out on the field, that made big impacts on big time plays and big time moments as well. So, that’s how I see myself and how I would love to be viewed on the football field. And also, as a solid teammate in the locker room. Because in order to be a good football player, you’ve got to be a good teammate as well, because you’ve got to gain the trust in your teammates in order for that ball to be thrown my way, to make those big plays, and to show my skills and to be that football player. In order to get those opportunities, you have to be a good football player and a good teammate. And that’s what it’s all about.

“Yes, so it was a wonderful voicemail from RKK,” Gronkowski said. “First, he was congratulating me on being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as a first ballot. And then on top of it, he kind of described my game a little bit, and how he said it was just so great, the time when I was there, and how I played the game of football, and everything that I have done for the Patriots organization.

“So, it was just a very meaningful voicemail from RKK. And that’s the first time I learned that I got inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. I didn’t even know. I know that I was an honoree three weeks ago. I had absolutely no clue when the induction was going to happen or when it was ending

I want to give credit…to the other honorees. I mean, you’ve got Adam Vinatieri and you’ve got Logan Mankins. Those are two players that I looked up to.”

And players on the Patriots today will be saying the same thing about Rob Gronkowski.