Maybe Tony Gonzalez isn’t set to retire.
Tony Gonzalez retirement closer to 50-50, says Falcons GM
The 13-time Pro Bowler might have whet his appetite by being so close to making Super Bowl XLVII.
USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said the veteran tight end is closer to 50/50 on retiring, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com. Gonzalez said toward the end of the 2012 season that he was 95 percent sure he'd retire:
“Tony has done so much for us on and off the field and I don’t believe, not stating that he would be lying to anyone, but I don’t believe the 95 percent,” Dimitroff said Thursday on NBC Sports Network’s “Pro Football Talk.” “I want to believe it’s a lot closer to 50/50, to be honest with you, and we’ve had discussions.”
“Obviously (head coach) Mike Smith has had discussions with him. We’re all in a good place. Ultimately it’s up to Tony to decide if he wants to come back and potentially catch 100 balls again. I think it’s one of those situations that Tony was so effective for us down the stretch and I can’t imagine that his appetite wasn’t sort of whet from his contributions in the playoffs.”
The future Hall of Famer turns 37 at the end of this month, but he certainly doesn't seem to be winding down. In 16 years in the NFL, Gonzalez has missed only two games. He hasn't missed a game since 2006 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
In his fourth season with the Falcons last year, Gonzalez caught 93 passes for 930 yards and eight touchdowns. It was one of his best seasons as a pro, and his sixth first team All-Pro nomination.
Despite his 16 years in the NFL, Gonzalez has never won a Super Bowl. He and the Falcons were five points away from making Super Bowl XLVII, but lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 28-24.
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