Rob Gronkowski & Drew Brees Ready for ‘Legendary’ Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime, Hoping for Lil Wayne Cameo

Across his 571 touchdown passes, Drew Brees never connected with tight end Rob Gronkowski. While the pair of former NFL superstars weren’t teammates on the field, they’ve teamed up as wingmen at Super Bowl LIX.

Even though the duo isn’t suiting up on the gridiron anymore these days, Brees and Gronk will still be involved with Super Bowl LIX through their Wingman campaign partnership with Bounty.

With the big game headed to New Orleans, it’s only right Gronk tapped the people’s mayor and Saints legend Drew Brees to call the plays in the Big Easy. (Although, it is ironic to see Brees aligned with Bounty after being part of theSaints teams tied to the scandal that came to be known as “Bountygate.”)

“I needed a guy that could show me around. Who’s better than Drew Brees? He’s the mayor of New Orleans,” Gronk tells Billboard. “Everyone knows who he is. He’s gonna bring me around town.”

Brees adds: “This is the 11th Super Bowl in New Orleans — the most of any city. There’s a reason they keep going back. It’s because it’s the greatest place to host the biggest event in all of sports. There’s no place that loves being able to host events [as much] and really takes pride in it.”

With the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs slated for this weekend, both of the future Hall-of-Famers’ Super Bowl predictions are still in tact, as Brees and Gronkowski expect the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills to face-off in New Orleans next month. (Gronk has the Lions lifting the Lombardi Trophy, while Brees believes it’s Buffalo’s year.)

As far as their pre-game playlists, Gronk was bumping plenty of Flo Rida — “My House” to be specific — while Brees opted for Dr. Dre and Eminem’s “Forgot About Dre.” Years later, Brees says he’s never heard Eminem sniping at him on 2020’s “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady.”

Check out the rest of our interview with Gronk and Brees touching on their favorite Super Bowl Halftime shows, Kendrick Lamar, getting shouted out in songs and more.

How’s it feel to still be involved with the Super Bowl post-career through a partnership like this?

Gronkowski: It’s really cool, man. When you have a successful career, all that hard work and dedication that you put in throughout the time you’re out on the field — it does pay off as well after, to be able to do endorsements and sponsorships still, because we had success. It means you had a legacy out on the field and people still love to hear about you, even if it’s through media, broadcasting or a commercial representing a brand. 

In this case, I’m the Bounty Man, and I’ve been with Bounty for three years now — and every year I have a wingman. Last year it was Julian Edelman, who was my teammate with the Patriots for nine years, so he was my ultimate wingman in many scenarios. I had to kick Julian to the curb, because he doesn’t run New Orleans. 

Brees: For a week, you have people walking, high-fiving and having a good time and restaurants and bars are open and live music venues. There’s this spirit and feeling when you walk down the streets, it’s unlike any other place. That’s why people talk about New Orleans like it’s own little country. It has its own heartbeat. We know how to have a good time. We know how to throw a great party. We look forward to having NFL fans everywhere embark on New Orleans for the week and make it the center of the universe. 

Do you have a favorite Super Bowl Halftime Show performance?

Gronkowski: I’ll go with Bruno Mars. I love the way Bruno performs. How he can sing and dance at the same time is incredible. I love his music. I’m a big Bruno Mars guy. It would be cool to see him perform at halftime again in the future. 

Brees: I thought Usher did a great job, man. I know it wasn’t a Super Bowl Halftime performance, but Beyoncé the other night on Netflix. Whoa. That was pretty good too. I was actually at the Super Bowl, Gronk, when you guys beat the Seahawks [in 2015] in Arizona. That was Katy Perry. She came out on the lion, it literally looked like it almost touched the ceiling. 

That was the first Super Bowl I went to — because before that I was like, “I’m only going unless we’re playing in it.” That one I wanted to go to — because it was the Patriots, who I had so much respect for, and I loved watching Tom [Brady], Gronk and that offense. They were playing against arguably one of the greatest defenses of all-time, being the Seahawks. Being on the NFC side, if we want to get back to this game, we’re gonna have to get past these guys. It was like, “I want to see this game in-person, so I can see every aspect of what’s happening on the field.” Then there’s the Katy Perry halftime show, which was next-level. Gronk’s fighting Michael Bennett at the end of the game. 

Gronkowski: How about that? Throwing some haymakers out there. 

What did you guys think about Kendrick Lamar getting the nod in New Orleans?

Gronkowski: I think it’s dope, man. Kendrick’s hot right now. He’s got some great songs out there. He gets the crowd going and brings the energy. That’s what it’s all about. I think he’s gonna do a great job. Whatever show he has that’s gonna go down, I think it’s gonna get the fans out of their seats. I feel like it’s gonna be pretty legendary. There’s gonna be some beats dropping out there that are gonna get people going.

Brees: I love that Kendrick’s gonna be performing. I really hope that Lil [Wayne] makes his way out at some point and he brings him into the mix. Lil Wayne is obviously a New Orleans guy. I think the fans in the city of New Orleans would love to see him be a part of it in some way. There’s always a surprise guest or two that spring up, and you never know who it’s gonna be, and I’m hoping he’s gonna make his way in there.

Was there a song that was your go-to for pregame or something you had to listen to before you ran out or to warm up?

Gronkowski: I’m a Flo Rida guy. He’s had so many No. 1 hits throughout his career. He’s so under-the-radar, but he’s been producing like no other throughout his time in the music industry. My favorite song that I’ve always listened to before games and everything was “My House” by Flo Rida, because you don’t want anyone to come into your house. You want to be the one that controls it and what goes down in your house. I’m a big Flo Rida guy. I listen to all his songs. I love the beats and he brings the energy to the table. All his songs are uplifting as well. “My House” was definitely my favorite.

Brees: I’m kind of an old-school guy, so I like early ’90s hip-hop. Dr. Dre’s “Forgot About Dre,” that was like [that] kind of chip-on-the-shoulder they-forgot-about-us kind of mindset. Let’s show them what it’s all about.

What did you think about Eminem name-dropping you in a song around 2020?

Brees: I probably don’t know what you’re talking about. 

Rob Gronkowski: Really? You got Eminem to drop your name in a song and you don’t even know about it? 

Yeah, this was like 2020 — a song with Kid Cudi.

Brees: Oh yeah? He did? I gotta look into it. I’m gonna have to look it up. 

Gronkowski: I would be honored. I hope that happens to me one day. 

Do you guys have a favorite name-drop in a record?

Gronkowski: I would say Rick Ross [on “Pop That”]. It’s not a name-drop, [but] It’s an organization drop. “I’m ballin, ballin’ like I play for New England.” That was hot. We were winning Super Bowls at the time. When that was on at the club when I was in my mid-20s, it couldn’t have been any better for me. I’d get up on the stage and the DJ booth and “ballin’, ballin’ like I play for New England” and the whole club would be going crazy. I would think I’m the absolute s–t, and just the adrenaline rush and I’m hammered as s–t. It couldn’t have been any better of a moment when that song dropped. It was legendary. 

Brees: I want to see DJ Gronk. 

Gronkowski: DJ Gronk don’t know nothing. You want to see dancing Gronk on the DJ booth. That’s what you want to see. 

Before we go, what are your Super Bowl predictions?

Gronkowski: I got the Detroit Lions versus the Buffalo Bills. My hometown. I got the Detroit Lions winning. They just overcame so much adversity this year. I feel like they’re gonna continue that into the playoffs.

Brees: That’s my pick as well. I’d love to see the Lions win it all, but I think it’s Buffalo’s year to get over the hump. They’re gonna have to go through Arrowhead [Stadium] to get the job done.

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