Tony Gonzalez
 Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Thomas Fargo, left, and Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, Rear. Adm. Michael C. Vitale pose for a photograph with the Kansas City Chiefs' Tight End Tony Gonzalez prior to the kickoff of the 2005 NFL Pro Bowl held in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 13, 2005. | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| College: | California |
| NFL draft: | 1997 / round: 1 / pick: 13 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Tony Gonzalez (born February 27, 1976 in Torrance, California) is an American football tight end who has played his entire NFL career for the Kansas City Chiefs.
High school
Gonzalez attended Huntington Beach High School in Huntington Beach, California, where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball.
Gonzalez excelled at both football and basketball. As a senior, playing football he caught 62 passes for 945 yards and 13 touchdowns and was a first-team All-America selection at both tight end and linebacker his senior season. Playing basketball, he was named Orange County and Sunset League MVP in basketball as he averaged 26 points per game.
After his senior year, Tony shared the Orange County High School Athlete of the Year along with golf superstar Tiger Woods.[1]
College
Gonzalez chose to attend the University of California at Berkeley, where he majored in communications and played both football and basketball.
As a member of the Cal football team, he played tight end under future NFL coach Steve Mariucci. His junior year was one of the best seasons of all time for a Division I tight end, as he caught 46 passes for 699 yards and 5 touchdowns. Gonzalez was also an All-Pac-10 and All-American selection.
Gonzalez also continued his basketball career at Cal. His junior year he played in 28 games, averaging 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as Cal made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Gonzalez elected to forfeit his final year of eligibility at Cal to declare for the NFL draft.
NFL
In 1996, the Kansas City Chiefs offense was among the worst in the NFL. Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer looked to use his first round pick to improve this area, and had admired Gonzalez's combination of size, athleticism, and receiving ability he had displayed while in college. Gonzalez was rated as the number one tight end in the 1997 NFL Draft, and was considered a top 15 selection. The Chiefs decided Gonzalez was their man, but were unlikely to be able to draft him with their 18th overall pick. The Chiefs thus traded up with the Houston Oilers to get the number 13 selection and draft Gonzalez.
Gonzalez began his career in 1997. His rookie season was mediocre, as he caught only 33 passes and two touchdowns, despite the Chiefs finishing with the best record in the AFC. His 1998 season saw dramatic improvements in catches (59) and yards (621), but in a very pedestrian Chiefs offense Gonzalez only caught two touchdown passes for the second consecutive year.
His 1999 season saw Gonzalez become one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL. He caught 76 passes for 849 yards and a career high 11 touchdown receptions and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. From 2000 to 2006, Gonzalez was the most productive tight end in the NFL. During this time frame he averaged 79 receptions, 968 yards, and 6.5 touchdowns per season and was selected to the Pro Bowl every year. His best season statistically was 2004, when he caught an NFL record 102 passes for 1258 yards and 7 touchdowns.
In 2007, Gonzalez has continued his productivity. Despite the more run-oriented offense of coach Herm Edwards and considerable uncertainty at the quarterback position, Gonzalez is in the top 3 in the NFL in all major receiving categories for tight ends.
Starting late in the 2006, Gonzalez began to close in on numerous team and league records for receiving. Late in 2006 Gonzalez broke Otis Taylor's Chiefs team receiving yards and touchdowns mark, and also passed Priest Holmes for the team yards-from-scrimmage record. In 2007, Gonzalez broke the career touchdown record previously held by Shannon Sharpe, as well as passing Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome for second in career receiving yards for a tight end.
Prior to the 2007 season, Gonzalez signed a contract extension which should ensure he remains with the Chiefs for the remainder of his career.
League Records
- Receptions in a single season for a tight end (102)
- Career receiving touchdowns for a tight end (64)
Team records
- Career receptions (750)
- Career receiving yards (9048)
- Career receiving touchdowns (64)
- Career yards from scrimmage (9048)
- Consecutive games with reception (102)
Trivia
- Gonzalez owns several Baja Fresh restaurant franchises in Kansas City, and owns a restaurant with Warren Moon) in Newport Beach, California.
- Created the "Books and Buddies" program in 2003 to help bridge the gap between teenagers and senior citizens. This program received the Presidential Volunteer Award in 2004.
- Served as a consultant for the Oliver Stone film Any Given Sunday.
- Is an ethnic mix of African American, Brazilian, Italian American, Peruvian and Cape Verdean.
- Appeared on the MTV show Cribs, and most recently the NBC show Celebrity Cooking Showdown.
- Has a son, Nikko (born in 2001) from a previous relationship with Lauren Sanchez.
- Had a commitment cermony in July of 2007.
- Shared an award with golfing legend Tiger Woods when in high school.
Acting credits
- Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Kansas City Chiefs (2007)
- Married to the Kellys (2004)
- The Jersey (2000)
- Arliss (2000)