FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tight end Rob Gronkowski and linebacker Dont'a Hightower were named first-time New England Patriots captains on Tuesday, with players informed of the decision after Tuesday's practice, according to ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates.

In addition to Gronkowski and Hightower, two other players on the current 53-man roster were named captains, safety Devin McCourty and perennial Pro Bowl special teamer Matthew Slater.

The team voted on captains Tuesday, according to Yates.

It is notable to see Gronkowski, now in his seventh season, ascend to this position of leadership with the club. Last week, he was named the team's Ron Burton Community Service Award winner and upon receiving the honor drew laughter from the crowd by saying, "Who would have ever thought five years ago, when I was on ESPN every weekend drunk, that I would be accepting this award?"

Gronkowski first joined the Patriots as a second-round draft choice in 2010. Meanwhile, Hightower was one of the team's two first-round picks in 2012 and has developed into one of the NFL's most physical linebackers.

It is the sixth straight year that McCourty and Slater have been named captains.