If you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok or Instagram over the last few years, you’ve probably seen a kid with a diamond chain and a football helmet looking slightly confused while standing next to a college coach. That’s Madden San Miguel. But most of us just know him as Baby Gronk.
The internet has a weird way of making time feel elastic. One day he’s a "prodigy" in third grade, and the next, he’s apparently "rizzing up" Livvy Dunne or committing to schools he won't actually attend for another decade. It makes you wonder: how old is Baby Gronk anyway? Is he still a kid, or is he somehow already a teenager?
The math on child stars is always a bit fuzzy because their parents—usually the ones running the accounts—want them to stay "young" enough to be a novelty but "old" enough to look like a serious athlete.
The Short Answer: How Old Is Baby Gronk Right Now?
Let's get the facts straight. Madden San Miguel was born on November 4, 2012.
Since it is now early 2026, Baby Gronk is 13 years old. He recently celebrated that 13th birthday late in 2025, which officially puts him into his teenage years. For those who remember him as the tiny 6-year-old running through drills in Frisco, Texas, this might come as a bit of a shock. He’s no longer the "baby" the nickname implies. He’s a middle schooler navigating the weirdest version of puberty ever recorded on social media.
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Honestly, the confusion about his age usually stems from how long he’s been in the spotlight. Most kids his age are worried about math homework or who's sitting at their lunch table. Madden, meanwhile, has been "retired" and "un-retired" from football twice before he even hit middle school.
Where He Is in School and Sports
Age is one thing, but in the world of recruiting—even the unofficial, mostly-for-clout recruiting Baby Gronk does—your "class" matters more.
Madden is currently in the 7th grade.
Interestingly, there was a bit of a stir in late 2025 regarding his "reclassification." His father, Jake San Miguel, announced that Madden was moving from the Class of 2032 to the Class of 2031. In the world of elite youth sports, "reclassifying" is often a fancy way of saying a kid is repeating a grade or adjusting their academic track to better align with their physical development.
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In Madden’s case, he made his middle school football debut in September 2025. He wasn't just playing; he was dominating, reportedly scoring five touchdowns in a single game. Whether that translates to high school success remains the million-dollar question, but for now, he’s a 13-year-old playing against other 12 and 13-year-olds.
Why Everyone Is So Obsessed (and Annoyed) With His Age
The "Baby Gronk" phenomenon isn't really about football. It’s about marketing. His dad, Jake, has been very open about the fact that they are building a brand. He told The Athletic and The Guardian in various interviews that the goal is to make Madden "marketable" so that even if he never makes the NFL, he’s already made enough money to be set for life.
This is where the age thing gets tricky.
- The "Prodigy" Trap: When he was 8, being 4'9" and 88 pounds was "freakish." Now that he’s 13, he has to keep growing at that same rate to stay ahead of the curve.
- The Content Cycle: To keep the followers coming (he’s got over 700k on some platforms), the content has to stay "viral." This leads to those scripted videos where he meets celebrities like Shaquille O'Neal or Mark Wahlberg.
- The Scholarship Offers: You might have seen headlines that he "committed" to Oregon or "received an offer" from Delaware State. At 13, these are verbal offers that aren't legally binding. Most college coaches do this for the social media engagement as much as the talent.
It’s easy to forget that behind the "Rizz King" memes and the NIL discussions, there's just a 13-year-old kid. Rob Gronkowski himself actually called the whole thing "awkward" and "annoying," mostly because the kid's father was using the "Gronk" name so aggressively.
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The Reality of Being a 13-Year-Old Influencer
While the internet argues about whether he's actually good at football (scouts say he’s a solid player, but it’s too early to tell), Madden is living a life that is fundamentally different from his peers.
He spends his weekends touring D1 campuses and filming TikToks instead of going to birthday parties. His dad claims he's a straight-A student and a "humble kid" in real life, but the persona we see online is a loud, diamond-wearing "baller." That disconnect is why so many people are fascinated by how old he is—they’re looking for signs of when this "experiment" ends or evolves.
What's Next for Madden San Miguel?
Now that he’s 13, the clock is ticking toward high school. That’s when the "Baby" part of the nickname has to go. High school football in Texas is no joke, and by the time he’s 14 or 15, he’ll be playing against grown men.
The next two years are the most critical. He’ll either grow into the frame everyone expects, or he’ll become another cautionary tale of internet fame coming too early.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Watch the Class of 2031: If you want to track his actual progress, stop looking at the viral clips and look for his stats in the Class of 2031 rankings.
- Check the "Reclassification" Trend: Madden is part of a larger trend of "sports parents" reclassifying their kids to give them a physical advantage. It’s worth watching if this becomes the new norm in youth athletics.
- Separate Brand from Talent: Recognize that his Instagram following and his "star rating" on recruiting sites are two completely different things. One measures clicks; the other measures 40-yard dash times.
At the end of the day, Madden San Miguel is a 13-year-old with a very loud megaphone. Whether he’s the next Rob Gronkowski or just the first of a new breed of "social media athletes," he’s already changed how we look at youth sports.