TONY GONZALEZ JOINS FOX SPORTS AS STUDIO ANALYST FOR 2017 NFL SEASON

New York - A presumptive lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Tony Gonzalez joins FOX Sports as a studio analyst beginning with the 2017 season. Gonzalez will be a fixture on FOX NFL KICKOFF, FOX's hour-long NFL pregame show preceding FOX NFL SUNDAY, airing each Sunday at 11:00 AM ET during the NFL season. The announcement was made today by John Entz, President of Production & Executive Producer, FOX Sports.

Gonzalez offers a fresh perspective and insightful analysis, drawing on his 17-year NFL playing career, where he established himself as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. Following his retirement after the 2013 NFL season, Gonzalez took his talents to television, appearing as a regular studio analyst on "The NFL Today" (2014-16), and contributing to other NFL related programming on CBS.

"Tony is an impressive talent with an infectious personality, and is the perfect addition to our FOX NFL KICKOFF show," said Entz. "He brings a unique outlook that will really round out the table."

"I can't wait for this upcoming season to get underway and begin working with the FOX Sports family," said Gonzalez. "It's a great opportunity for me to continue sharing my passion for the game while remaining close to home."

A two-sport athlete at the University of California, Berkeley, Gonzalez chose a career in football over basketball after he was recognized as a consensus All-American tight end and named to the All-Pac-10 first team in 1996. After being drafted 13th overall in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Gonzalez embarked on an illustrious 17- year career with the Chiefs (1997-08) and Atlanta Falcons (2009-13).

A 14-time Pro Bowl selection, including 10 consecutive selections from 1999-08, Gonzalez currently holds the NFL record for touchdown receptions (111) and total receiving yards (15,127) by a tight end. He also finished his career second all-time in receptions with 1,325 while earning first-team All-Pro honors an impressive six times and was named first-team tight end on the 2000's All-Decade Team. Gonzalez also holds a multitude of Chiefs franchise records, including in the categories of career receiving yards, career receiving touchdowns, career yards from scrimmage, receptions in a season, and seasons with 1,000 receiving yards.