University of California Athletics

Considered one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and one of the best to every play the position at Cal, Gonzalez was a two-sport letterman for the Golden Bears who starred in both football and basketball. He was named a first-team All-American by Football News and Sporting News, as well as All-Pac-10, in his final season on the gridiron as a junior in 1996. That season, he had 44 receptions for 699 yards and five touchdowns, helping Cal to the Aloha Bowl where he equaled a school bowl record with nine receptions. Gonzalez completed his career with 89 catches for 1,302 yards and eight scores. He enjoyed 16 starts and played in 82 games for the Cal basketball team, contributing 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg. As a junior, he helped Cal to the Sweet 16 of the 1997 NCAA Tournament, which included a 23-point effort in a win over Villanova in the second round. The 13th overall pick of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Gonzalez played 17 seasons and in 270 games in the NFL for the Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, recording 1,325 catches for 15,127 yards and 111 touchdown receptions before announcing his retirement following the 2013 season. His receptions are the second most in NFL history, while the receiving yards are fifth and touchdown catches sixth, with all three the most ever in the NFL by a tight end. He was a 10-time All-Pro, a 14-time Pro Bowl choice and a member of the NFL’s 2000’s All-Decade Team.