FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was selected as the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Rob Gronkowski's 12-touchdown season earned him Comeback Player of the Year honors. Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Gronkowski had missed all of 2013 training camp and the first six games of the 2013 season (forearm) before returning to action and then suffering a torn ACL in Week 15 that ended his season.

Back to full health in 2014, he totaled 82 receptions for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, but his impact went well beyond statistics.

Gronkowski's presence on the field consistently opened opportunities for others, such as in the Nov. 2 win against the Denver Broncos, when three to four players surrounded him in the red zone on plays in which Julian Edelman and Shane Vereen beat one-on-one coverage to score touchdowns.

Gronkowski is the third member of the New England organization to win Comeback Player of the Year honors, joining wide receiver Randy Moss (2007) and quarterback Tom Brady (2009).