Tony Gonzalez is finally ready to call it quits after a lengthy and very successful career in the NFL. He has spent 17 seasons as a tight end in the league, and has played for two teams throughout his career.
His final game will be on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers before retiring as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Tony Gonzalez is sure to be a member of the NFL Hall of Fame in the future after setting several records as one of the best tight ends to play the sport.
He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997, and after a great deal of success with the Chiefs, he has played with the Atlanta Falcons since 2009. London Fletcher, another veteran in the league, also announced his retirement recently.
In their final game of the season, the Falcons have nothing to play for with a record of 4-11. However, the Carolina Panthers are already in the playoffs, and will attempt to get an even better seed with a win in the final game of the season.
The Panthers will be playing without their star wide receiver Steve Smith, who was injured in the first quarter of their week 16 game against the New Orleans Saints.
Our crew on conference call with Tony Gonzalez..he just said, I'm talking to you guys as I walk off the practice field for the last time.
— Erin Andrews (@ErinAndrews) December 27, 2013
Tony Gonzalez has had a great career, and while admitting that he could continue playing, he feels that his career has come to an end. However, he still remains to be one of the top tight ends in the league, and during the 2013 season, he has averaged 10 yards per reception and is on pace for more than 80 catches and 900 yards.
ATL's Tony Gonzalez: "I could keep playing. I know i could…. But it's over." (If there were a team in L.A., he'd consider playing more).
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) December 19, 2013
He is likely to say goodbye to the league after Sunday’s game, although as fans of the Atlanta Falcons probably remember, the veteran also said that he was 95% sure that he would retire after the 2012 season.
The decision seems to have to do with his family, and Gonzalez admitted that if his team was in Los Angeles where his family lives that he would likely keep playing, but that is not the case.
After a successful career of 17 seasons in the NFL that sent him to multiple Pro Bowls, Tony Gonzalez is likely to head to retirement.
He is also set to receive a helmet during his final game that will commemorate the two teams that he played for.
Tony Gonzalez will be presented with this Falcons and Chiefs helmet on Sunday. #ThankYouTony pic.twitter.com/lXD00095YU
— Atlanta_Falcons (@Atlanta_Falcons) December 27, 2013
Image via Youtube
