Tony Gonzales: American Football
Anthony “Tony” David Gonzales (born: February 27, 1976) is a former American football tight end who played in the NFL. He stands 6’4” and weighs 250 pounds, a classic built for his position. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the NFL Draft in 1997. He played for the Chiefs from 1997-2008 and the Atlanta Falcons from 2009-2013. Tony Gonzales played for the University of California, Berkeley when he was in college, a consensus All-American, where he also played basketball and helped the team reach the Sweet 16. After his retirement in 2013, he became an analyst in CBS’ NFL pre-game show NFL Today.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Tony Gonzales is a fourteen-time Pro Bowl selection, a ten-time All-Pro, a two-time NFL Alumni Tight End of the Year. He’s the first tight end to ever catch one thousand passes. He’s the Pro Bowl all-time receptions leader (48) and is the tied most Pro Bowl Appearances by any player.
Why Was He So Good?
Gonzales took linebackers using his monster strength and his pure swiftness to run by safeties. He also had the qualified skills, possessing enthusiastic athletic instincts and a strong and competitive attitude.
What You May Not Know
- Many people question his race because of his last name and skin color. His heritage is mix of White, Jamaican, Scottish, American-Indian and African-American.
- When he was younger, sports weren’t included in his list of priority unlike his brother Chris. He enjoyed skateboarding, bike rides and hanging out at the beach. Chris convinced Tony to try out sports so he tried and hated it. He was only 11 when he joined the Pop Warmer league and quit.
- He played basketball in 1990 and scored 18 points during his first rec league game. That’s when his athletic abilities started to pour out.
- Did you know that he was Orange County’s High School Athlete of the Year alongside Tiger Woods?
In 2009, he and his wife, October, stripped down for a Peta ad. They are both involved in giving back, also with the Shadow Buddies foundation where they work with sick children in a couple of hospitals and which Tony became first involved with during his early year with the National Football League.
Was he a legend?
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Related Pages
- More American Football players
- Athlete Database home
- About the sport of American Football
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