The Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tight end met Sen. Barack Obama during a campaign stop in California, and the Democratic candidate for president congratulated him for stopping a man from choking to death.

About the same time, Gonzalez opened his mail and read a letter from the president and first lady Laura Bush.

"The President said, 'Thank you for helping out your fellow human being,' " Gonzalez said Saturday. "He said he and Laura wished me good luck in the upcoming season."