Rob Gronkowski is a certified lock for the Hall of Fame. Four Super Bowl rings. Five Pro Bowls. A personality that fills an entire stadium. But for two years straight, the one thing the legendary tight end couldn't do was kick a 25-yard field goal when millions of dollars were on the line.
If you’re looking for a name to put next to the question of who won the FanDuel Kick of Destiny, the answer is actually "the fans," but probably not in the way Gronk hoped. In both the original 2023 campaign and the 2024 "Kick of Destiny 2," Rob Gronkowski missed the kick. He missed left in Arizona. He missed right in Las Vegas.
It’s kind of wild when you think about it. FanDuel spent millions on airtime, celebrity cameos from the likes of John Cena and Carl Weathers, and a massive "Punt, Pass, and Kick" style hype machine only for the Greatest Of All Time to shank it twice. Honestly, the drama of the miss became a bigger story than a successful kick ever would have been.
The 2023 Original: A Miss in the Desert
The first time FanDuel tried this, the stakes felt incredibly high because it was a brand-new concept. They put $10 million in bonus bets on the line. The premise was simple: if Gronk makes a field goal during a live Super Bowl LVII commercial break, everyone who placed a qualifying bet on the Super Bowl would get a piece of the pie.
Gronk headed out to a "secret location" in the Arizona desert. The wind was swirling. You could see the nerves on his face, which is rare for a guy who spent a decade crashing into linebackers for fun. He stepped up, swung that massive leg, and the ball hooked hard to the left.
Technically, even though he missed, FanDuel still paid out. They realized that penalizing their users because their brand ambassador isn't a professional kicker would be a PR nightmare. So, everyone who opted in still got their share of the $10 million in bonus bets. In that sense, the bettors were the ones who won the FanDuel Kick of Destiny that year.
The 2024 Sequel: The Redemption That Wasn't
Fast forward to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. FanDuel doubled down. They called it the Kick of Destiny 2. This time, they added a layer of gamification where users could actually "Make" or "Miss" in the app for free. If you picked correctly, you’d win a share of $10 million in bonus bets.
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The marketing was top-tier. They brought in the late, great Carl Weathers to coach Gronk. They had John Cena acting as the "villain" who wanted Gronk to fail. It felt like a movie.
Then came the live moment. Gronkowski lined up for the 25-yarder. He looked more prepared this time. He looked focused. He kicked... and pushed it wide right.
Total silence for a second. Then Cena started cheering. If you were one of the people who predicted a "Miss" in the FanDuel app, you were the winner. This was a pivotal shift in how the promotion worked. Unlike the first year where everyone won regardless of the outcome, the 2024 version rewarded those who bet against Gronk's kicking abilities.
Why 25 Yards is Harder Than It Looks
You might be thinking, "It’s only 25 yards. I could do that."
Maybe. But probably not with 100 million people watching and a camera crew in your face. A 25-yard field goal means the ball is snapped at the 15-yard line. In a real NFL game, that’s an extra point. NFL kickers make those about 95% of the time. But Gronk isn't a kicker. He's a 265-pound human wrecking ball.
Kicking requires a specific type of "snap" in the hips and a very precise point of contact on the foot. If your toe is off by even half an inch, that ball is sailing toward the sidelines. Gronk’s leg strength was never the issue; it was the mechanics. Watching him try to navigate the "soccer-style" kick after a lifetime of being a power athlete was a fascinating study in specialized skill sets.
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The John Cena vs. Carl Weathers Factor
The 2024 campaign wasn't just about the kick; it was about the spectacle. The "Who Won" question extends to the brand battle. John Cena represented "Team Miss," while Carl Weathers represented "Team Make."
Cena's character was classic WWE heel—arrogant, funny, and rooting for the downfall of a legend. When the ball sailed wide right, Cena’s celebratory "I told you so" was the climax of the ad. For fans of sports entertainment, Cena won the night.
On a more somber note, the campaign served as one of the final on-screen appearances for Carl Weathers. FanDuel actually adjusted their ad slightly after his passing to ensure it remained a respectful tribute to the legendary actor. The "victory" here was really a win for the fans who got to see Weathers one last time in a role that leaned into his "tough-love mentor" persona from Rocky and Happy Gilmore.
Breaking Down the Bonus Bet Payouts
Let’s talk money, because that’s why people care about who won the FanDuel Kick of Destiny.
In 2024, the $10 million pool was split among everyone who correctly chose "Miss." Because a huge portion of the public—roughly 70% to 80% based on various reports—was optimistic and chose "Make," the payout for those who chose "Miss" was actually higher than it would have been otherwise.
Usually, these payouts come in the form of "Bonus Bets." This is a crucial distinction. You don't get $5 deposited into your bank account. You get a credit to use on the site. If you use that $5 credit and win a bet at +100 odds, you get $5 in profit, but you don't keep the original $5 stake.
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It’s a clever way for FanDuel to keep people engaged with the app long after the Super Bowl confetti has been swept up.
Lessons from the Kick of Destiny
This whole saga taught us a few things about sports betting and marketing in 2026. First, the "house" always finds a way to win. FanDuel got millions of people to open their app during the most expensive ad-buy window of the year.
Second, betting on "failure" is often a smarter statistical move when dealing with non-professionals. We love a comeback story, but the physics of a tight end kicking a ball don't care about our feelings.
Practical Steps for Future FanDuel Promotions
If you're looking to capitalize on the next "Kick of Destiny" or similar Super Bowl promotions, don't just follow the crowd.
- Check the Terms: Always see if the payout is "win or lose" (like 2023) or "prediction based" (like 2024).
- Hedge Your Bets: If the promotion is free to enter, use multiple accounts in your household (where legal) to cover both outcomes.
- Don't Forget the Expiration: Bonus bets from these events usually expire within 7 to 30 days. If you don't use them, you lose them.
- Look for the Underdog: In the "Make vs. Miss" scenario, the "Miss" is almost always the better value because people naturally want to see the hero succeed.
Rob Gronkowski might have two losses on his kicking record, but the Kick of Destiny changed how we watch Super Bowl commercials. It turned a 30-second spot into a month-long narrative. Whether he tries for a third time remains to be seen, but for now, the history books show two misses, a lot of bonus bets, and a whole lot of John Cena laughing.
To maximize your value in future sportsbooks promos, keep an eye on your "Promotions" tab starting in early January. These offers usually require a manual "Opt-In" before the event starts. If you miss that button, it doesn't matter what Gronk does with his feet—you won't see a dime.