Even so, he remained in demand. The owner of the Patriots, Robert K. Kraft, made no secret of his desire to persuade Gronkowski to return to the team in time for the playoffs last season. Gronkowski had not turned in his retirement papers, so the Patriots still held his rights. The Patriots offense was not nearly as potent without Gronkowski, and their season ended quickly after one playoff game.

Gronkowski is in the last year of his contract, which includes a $9 million base salary and $1 million in bonuses. During his appearances as a Fox Sports commentator before this year’s Super Bowl. “I feel great,” he said. “Sort of better every day. It’s been really good for me.”

Gronkowski was named the WWE 24/7 champion at WrestleMania 36 earlier this month and moves to Florida, where the wrestling promotion is considered an essential service.

Though Gronkowski passed on the chance to return to the Patriots, he apparently felt well enough to come back to the N.F.L. if he could play again with Brady. The teammates will join a Buccaneers team already stocked with offensive talent and guided by head coach Bruce Arians, an offensive mastermind who favors Kangol hats, expletives and wisecracks, in stark contrast to Bill Belichick’s morose ways. In his first season in Tampa last year, the Buccaneers had the third-best offense in the league, with an erratic Jameis Winston at quarterback.

Winston is gone, but much of the talent around him is still there. Frustrated by the relative lack of offensive talent around him in New England last season, Brady will now throw to Gronkowski, as well as Mike Evans and the speedy Chris Godwin, two 1,000-yard receivers last season who are both over six feet tall.

With Brady and Gronkowski reunited in Tampa, the N.F.C. South, which includes the New Orleans Saints, could become one of the most competitive divisions in the league. And the once sleepy Buccaneers, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2007, are destined to become fixtures in prime time.

And not for nothing, Super Bowl LV will be held in Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, Fla., Brady and Gronkowski’s new home field.