Tony Gonzalez

At 48 years old, Tony Gonzalez has this physical status:

Anthony David Gonzalez (born February 27, 1976) is a former American football tight end who is a football analyst for Fox Sports.

He played college football and college basketball at University of California, Berkeley, and was recognized as a consensus All-American in football.

He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft, where he played for 12 seasons, until being traded to the Atlanta Falcons, where he played for 5 seasons.

Gonzalez, a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, holds the NFL record for total receiving yards (15,127) by a tight end.

He also is third all-time in receptions with 1,325, trailing only wide receivers Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald.

Gonzalez was known for his durability and rarely fumbling.

During his career, he only missed two games and lost only two fumbles on 1,327 touches.

Gonzalez was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2019, his first year of eligibility.

Early years

Gonzalez was born in Torrance, California, and was raised by his mother, Judy, who worked two jobs to support the family. Gonzalez attended Huntington Beach High School in Huntington Beach, California, where he lettered in football and basketball.

As a senior, he caught 62 passes for 945 yards and 13 touchdowns and was a first-team All America selection at both tight end and linebacker. Playing basketball, he was named Orange County and Sunset League MVP as he averaged 26 points per game.

After his senior year, Gonzalez shared the Orange County High School Athlete of the Year along with golfer Tiger Woods.

Personal life

In early 2007, Gonzalez suffered a bout of facial paralysis known as Bell's Palsy. He subsequently experimented with a vegan diet after reading The China Study, by Cornell professor and nutrition researcher T. Colin Campbell, but he and his nutritionist, Mitzi Dulan, ultimately decided that eating meat occasionally would be best for his performance. Gonzalez only eats organic fruits and vegetables, free-range chicken, grass fed beef (no more than 18 ounces a month), and fish.

Gonzalez had a commitment ceremony in July 2007 with his girlfriend, October, though the couple considers themselves married despite not being legally married. They have three children together, two daughters and a son. He has another son from a previous relationship with entertainment reporter Lauren Sánchez. He lives in Huntington Beach, California.

On July 3, 2008, while dining with his family at Capone's Restaurant in Huntington Beach, California, Gonzalez noticed fellow diner Ken Hunter choking on a piece of meat at a nearby table, unable to breathe. Gonzalez successfully administered the Heimlich Maneuver, saving Hunter's life. After the incident, it was revealed that Hunter was a fan of the San Diego Chargers, who are a rival team of the Chiefs in the AFC West.

Gonzalez campaigned for then-Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, saying "this is the first time in my life that I've ever been political about anything."

He was the grand marshal of the 2014 Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade.

Gonzalez is of 1/4 Argentinean descent via one of his grandfathers and 1/8 Portuguese descent from one of his great-grandfathers. Gonzalez also has African American and Scottish ancestry.

Along with playing in the NFL, Gonzalez has been involved in a number of business ventures. While playing for the Chiefs, he co-founded Extreme Clean 88, a commercial cleaning service in Kansas City. While in Kansas City, Gonzalez also contributed to Shadow Buddies, a charity that works with hospitalized children. Gonzalez, is also an Ambassador for the non-profit, Scholars' Hope Foundation in Huntington Beach. It is an after-school academic enrichment program that helps students be the best version of themselves and to encourage them into higher education.

In 2009, Gonzalez co-authored the book The All-Pro Diet. The book, co-written with Mitzi Dulan, the former nutritionist for the Chiefs, details his diet and workout routine and provides practical suggestions for others to follow the same path.

Later in 2009, Gonzalez co-founded All-Pro Science, a sports nutrition company that manufactures a complete line of protein shakes, vitamins and other supplements. The products in the APS line follow a similar philosophy to the one set forth in Gonzalez's book, focusing on a balance of foods from all-natural sources.

From 2013 to 2017, Gonzalez worked with FitStar, a company that makes mobile fitness apps, helping people get in shape with customized workouts delivered via the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. He appears in the FitStar Personal Trainer, leading users through personalized Sessions.

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College career

Gonzalez enrolled in Berkeley, California, where he concentrated in communications and played both football and basketball. He fought tight end under new NFL coach Steve Mariucci as a member of the California Golden Bears football team. Gonzalez was also a winner on Both-Pac-10 and All-America.

Gonzalez played basketball for a while at Cal. As California advanced to the NCAA basketball tournament's Sweet Sixteen, he played in 28 games, averaging 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Gonzalez had to decide whether or not he wanted to work in basketball or football eventually. "You get done playing football and then you transition to basketball[, which] had already been going for a month," Tony said, but ultimately, "the call was pretty much made for me."

Gonzalez decided against declaring for the NFL Draft in his last year of eligibility.

Professional career

Gonzalez was rated as one of the top tight ends in the 1997 NFL Draft and was deemed a top-ten pick. With the Tennessee Oilers, the Chiefs went from the 18th to the 13th pick, with draft Gonzalez moving from the 18th to the 13th position.

Gonzalez began his career in 1997. He had 33 receptions, two touchdowns, and a blocked punt on special teams, leading the Chiefs to finish with the best record in the American Football Conference (AFC). For the 1997 season, he was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team. Gonzalez made strides in 1998 with 59 receptions for 621 yards, as well as two touchdown passes for the second (consecutive) year.

Gonzalez made his Pro Bowl debut in 1999 as he had 76 passes for 849 yards and a career-high 11 touchdown receptions. In addition, he was chosen as a member of the First Team All-Pro team. He had 93 receptions for 1,203 passing yards and nine touchdowns in the 2000 season. For the 2000 season, he was named to the Pro Bowl and as a First Team All-Pro. While receiving his third career First Team All-Pro recognition and a Pro Bowl nomination, he had 73 receptions for 917 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the 2001 season. He threw his first professional pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 4, which went for 40 yards. He had 63 receptions for 773 yards and seven touchdowns in 2002, marking yet another Pro Bowl nod. A 48-31 victory over the Miami Dolphins was one of the season's highlights, with seven receptions for 140 passing yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Gonzalez was the NFL's most consistent tight end from 2003 to 2006. He had 71 receptions for 916 receiving yards and ten receiving touchdowns in the 2003 season. He was selected as a member of First Team All-Pro for the fourth time in his career. He was named to his fifth straight Pro Bowl appearance during the 2003 season. He had his best season since 2004 (for a close end) 102 passes for 1,258 yards and seven touchdowns, his highest season ever. He had a career-high 14 receptions for 144 yards against the San Diego Chargers in Week 17. For his career, he was voted in the Pro Bowl for his historic season. Gonzalez's single-season record of 102 receptions by a tight end lasted for eight years before being broken by Jason Witten during the 2012 season. In another Pro Bowl season, he had 78 receptions for 905 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2005.

Gonzalez came to a close on multiple team and league receiving awards, beginning late in 2006. He had 73 receptions for 900 receiving yards and five touchdowns, earning his eighth straight Pro Bowl nomination. Gonzalez retired wide receiver Otis Taylor's Chiefs team from the league's receiving yards and touchdowns record in 2006, while running back Priest Holmes was also awarded the team's team earned the most team yards from a scrimmage record.

Despite the Chiefs' general poor play, Gonzalez stayed productive in 2007. Despite being named to his ninth straight Pro Bowl, Gonzalez led the Chiefs and all NFL tight ends in receptions (99) and receiving yards (1,172).

Gonzalez tied for the most tight ends ever held by Shannon Sharpe on October 14, 2007, as well as passing Ozzie Newsome for second in career receiving yards for a close finish. Gonzalez's third season with 1,000 receiving yards tied him with Kellen Winslow, Todd Christensen, and Shannon Sharpe for the most receptions by a long end, and by a tight end on December 23, 2007, Gonzalez tied Shannon Sharpe for most receptions all time by a tight end.

Gonzalez was the NFL all-time leader in receiving yards for a tight finish in week 4 of the 2008 season, defeating Shannon Sharpe. He had 96 receptions for 1,058 yards and was also elected to his tenth Pro Bowl appearance. He received First Team All-Pro accolades for the fifth time in his career.

Gonzalez has spoken to Chiefs' staff again about a possible trade during the 2009 offseason. Unlike previous Chiefs' bosses, new Chiefs' GM Scott Pioli told Gonzalez that he would see what he could do.

Gonzalez was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft on April 23, 2009. Gonzalez intercepted a touchdown pass from Matt Ryan in his first regular season game against the Miami Dolphins, making him the 21st player and the first tight end in NFL history with 11,000 receiving yards. With five receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown, he led the Falcons in receiving for 73 yards and one touchdown, marking his third appearance in the season's first game. Although Gonzalez had 83 receptions for 867 yards and 6 touchdowns, his total stats fell from the previous years in Kansas City, and Gonzalez was not allowed to the Pro Bowl for the first time in ten years. He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the years 2000-2009.

Gonzalez celebrated his 1,000th career appearance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 regular season opener, making him the seventh player in NFL history to do so and the first tight end. Gonzalez made his best appearance as a Falcon two weeks later against the defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints, as he had eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown to help lead Atlanta to victory in overtime. His participation in 2010 helped him return to the Pro Bowl that year. In Gonzalez's first playoff game in five years, the Falcons also finished 13-3 on the season to earn the first seed in the playoffs; the Green Bay Packers, the eventual Super Bowl champions, defeated the Falcons in Gonzalez's first playoff game in five years.

Gonzalez considered retirement over the 2011 NFL lockout rather than waiting out a full season and waiting to play in 2012. Gonzalez was adamant that he had at least three seasons left in him and was excited to return to the Falcons, who were widely regarded as Super Bowl favorites, after the lockout was eventually lifted by the league. He ranked 46th by his peers in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.

Gonzalez had 80 receptions for 875 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2011 season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and ranked 53rd among his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.

Gonzalez's deal will expire following the 2011 season, and he signed a one-year $7 million contract extension with the Falcons on January 1, 2012, signaling his commitment to return for at least one season. Gonzalez appeared in Arrowhead Stadium against the Chiefs for the first time in his career, resulting in the Falcons' victory in the 2012 season opener. In a week 10 game against the New Orleans Saints, Gonzalez scored his 100th touchdown in his career, his first close game in NFL history to collect 100 touchdown passes. He finished the 2012 season with 93 receptions for 930 yards and eight receiving touchdowns, earning another First Team All-Pro honor and a Pro Bowl nomination. When the Falcons defeated the Seattle Seahawks 30–28, Gonzalez won his first playoff game of his career. On the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013, his coworkers ranked him 47th.

He insisted on retiring throughout the 2012 season. "I'm proud to say that after speaking with my families, I'm coming back," he posted on his Twitter page on March 12, 2013. Later that day, then wrote, "The thrill of being on such a great team and company, as well as incredible fan support was too sweet to pass up."

Despite his claim that he will be retiring after the 2013 season, Gonzalez re-signed with the Falcons to a two-year, $14 million deal on March 15, 2013. Gonzalez, 37, spent his remaining season as the NFL's top receivers in receiving yards after Randy Moss' retirement. On September 29, he had 12 receptions against the New England Patriots, with a career-high 149 receiving yards and two touchdowns. On December 29, Gonzalez played his final NFL game against the Carolina Panthers. He had 83 receptions for 859 passing yards and eight touchdowns in his final season. He'll be named a second alternate for the Pro Bowl this season, and he was promoted to the roster after San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis declines the invite. It was his 14th and final Pro Bowl appearance, putting him with Bruce Matthews and Merlin Olsen for the most picks for the game.

Gonzalez is often regarded as the most tight end of all time. He set numerous NFL records for tight ends in his career. Only two of his major records have been broken, most career touchdowns, and the most 1,000 yards seasons have come to an end. In addition,, he holds numerous Chiefs team records, and at the time of his retirement, he ranked in the top ten receiving categories for any position. He finished 5th in yards, 2nd in receptions, and 6th in touchdowns. He ended his career with a 265 reception streak, going from a game played on November 26, 2000, to his final game on December 29, 2013. In 5 of his 270 games, the bulk of which came during his rookie season, he only failed to record a reception. The Chiefs announced on January 26, 2018 that Gonzalez would be inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame. He was inducted during halftime of a game during the 2018 season. Gonzalez was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2019. He was selected for the NFL 2000s All-Decade team as well as the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Post-NFL career

Gonzalez became an analyst on CBS's NFL pregame show NFL Today following his retirement. He appeared on CBS until the 2016 season ended.

Gonzalez was called to Fox's pregame show on May 10, 2017. Gonzalez left Fox on July 16, 2021, to concentrate on more television and film projects.

Gonzalez will return to television after a one-year absence and join Amazon as a studio analyst for Thursday Night Football for the 2022 season on April 28, 2022.

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