This past Saturday at the NFL Honors, the league confirmed what we were all expecting—former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After the announcement, Gonzalez spoke to Atlanta reporters about finishing his last five playing years with the Falcons.
Here’s the best tight end to ever play the game’s response when asked what his time as a Falcon was like: #ProFootballHallofFame #ClassOf2019 pic.twitter.com/Eaga3C4DWJ
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) February 3, 2019
GONZALEZ: “Someone asked me that question the other day, and I was like, the Falcons, honestly, it made my career to come here. It really did. Nothing against Kansas City—I was there 12 years, but only three playoff games—never won a playoff game. A lot of losing seasons. Fans were unbelievable, second to none. And the community, I loved it, but when I got to Atlanta, it’s like all of a sudden, you’re part of this winning organization. I got to play with guys like Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones, John Abraham. We’re going to the playoffs. I won a playoff game. We played in the NFC championship game. It was just truly an amazing [experience]. We’re on TV every week doing Monday Night Football games, Sunday Night Football games. It really was a nice bowtie that lasted a lot longer than I thought it was going to last. I thought it was only going to be two years. I remember (Falcons general manager) Thomas Dimitroff, after I got traded, he’s like, ‘Hey, I gave up a second-round draft choice for you, you’re going to play longer than one year, will ya? Can I get at least two years out of you?’ Obviously that turned into five years and I just had some really good times out here. This is a great city. I love it here. I love being back here for this week—driving around town, seeing all my old stomping grounds and old restaurants. I’m going to go hit one up [Saturday night] after this. I enjoy this place.”
As one could imagine, the comments made by Gonzalez did not exactly sit well with Chiefs fans. Gonzalez then issued an apology to Kansas City via his official Twitter account on Sunday.
Nothing but love for the @Chiefs organization and all my die hards. Wouldn’t be here without you.
— Tony Gonzalez (@TonyGonzalez88) February 3, 2019
❤️ pic.twitter.com/XioE41xuQx
Gonzalez noted that he had been surrounded by Atlanta reporters on Saturday night and thanked Kansas City fans for the support he received over the 12 years he spent as a Chief.
Gonzalez, along with former Chiefs safety Johnny Robinson and cornerback Ty Law, will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this August.