Tony Gonzalez Signs with United Talent Agency

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Tony Gonzalez has new representation…

The 48-year-old part-Mexican American former American football tight end and Pro Football Hall of Famer has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA).

Gonzalez will continue to represented by SMAC Entertainment and Jill Fritzo PR.

Gonzalez is considered one of the greatest tight ends in National Football League (NFL) history. He played in the league for 17 seasons, primarily for the Kansas City Chiefs and then for the Atlanta Falcons for his final five seasons in the league. He’s the NFL’s all-time-leader in touchdowns and yards by a tight end as well as consecutive starts and Pro Bowl appearances by a tight end.

After retiring in 2013, he began working as an analyst for The NFL Today and other NFL programming at CBS. He currently co-hosts Thursday Night Football for Amazon Prime Video.

Gonzalez has branched out into acting in recent years. He’ll guest star in the seventh episode of Season 6 of the CBS comedy series The Neighborhood. He will appear in the episode as Derrick, Calvin’s (Cedric the Entertainer) new physical therapist. Season 6 of the series launched on February 12 after being delayed due to the double writers’ and actors’ strikes.

He also appeared in the Amazon film The Underdoggs opposite Snoop Dogg and Tika Sumpter, the Paramount+ film Fantasy Football, and the Spectrum Originals drama series Long Slow Exhale.

His other credits include XXX: The Return of Xander Cage and multiple episodes of NCIS.

Gonzalez is active in philanthropy as well, working with organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Shadow Buddies, Scholars’ Hope and Give Power.

Brian Flores Hired as New Defensive Coordinator for Minnesota Vikings

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Brian Flores is headed to the Midwest.

The 41-year-old Honduran American football coach has been hired as the new defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, ending a monthlong search to replace the fired Ed Donatell.

Flores spent last season as the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach after being fired as head coach by the Miami Dolphins following the 2021 season.

He’ll take over a defense that finished No. 31 in the NFL in yards allowed and is on the cusp of a significant personnel overhaul. He has a yearslong relationship with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was drafted by the New England Patriots as a quarterback in 2008 when Flores was a special teams assistant there.

After firing Donatell on January 19, the Vikings quickly interviewed four candidates for the job: Ryan Nielsen, Sean Desai, Mike Pettine and Flores. Nielsen took the Atlanta Falcons‘ defensive coordinator job and Desai removed his name from consideration, but sources told ESPN all along that then-Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was their top candidate.

Evero and O’Connell spent two years on the Los Angeles Rams‘ coaching staff in 2020 and 2021, and O’Connell hoped to reunite in 2023. But Sunday, one day after the Broncos released Evero from his contract, he agreed to terms with the Carolina Panthers to be their defensive coordinator without taking an interview with the Vikings.

On Monday, the Vikings moved on to Flores, who also was a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals‘ open head-coaching job.

Flores joins the Vikings one year after suing the NFL and three teams — the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants — alleging discrimination regarding his interview processes with Denver and New York and his firing by Miami.

Longtime NFL assistants Steve Wilks and Ray Horton later joined the suit, which the NFL is attempting to move to arbitration. Flores also alleged the Dolphins tried to incentivize him to lose games and participate in illegal tampering; the league disciplined the Dolphins last summer for tampering violations of “unprecedented scope and severity,” according to commissioner Roger Goodell.

It was not immediately clear how Flores’ arrival would affect the scheme that O’Connell originally hired Donatell to install. Flores’ defense in Miami was known for heavy blitzing — it had the NFL’s fourth-highest blitz rate from 2019 to 2021 — and man-to-man coverage in the secondary, two characteristics the Vikings largely stayed away from under Donatell.

Tony Gonzalez Among On-Air Talent for Prime Video’s NFL “Thursday Night Football” Programming

Posted on June 25, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Tony Gonzalez is primed for his next broadcasting gig…

The 46-year-old part-Mexican American former American football tight end, who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, will be part of Prime Video’s NFL pregame, halftime and postgame coverage this fall when the service presents its exclusive Thursday Night Football package.

Gonzalez will work along side former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who retired in the offseason, and Richard Sherman for each TNF game.

The expanding roster of Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football on-air talent also includes legendary play-by-play announcer Al Michaels and five-time Sports Emmy-winning analyst Kirk Herbstreit.

Fred Gaudelli, producer of seven Super Bowls and a recent inductee into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, will serve as the executive producer of Thursday Night Football’s game coverage.

Multiple Sports Emmy winners Mike Muriano and Spoon Daftary are the executive and senior coordinating producers of Thursday Night Football’s pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage.

Kicking off September 15, Prime Video will be the first streaming service to air a season-long exclusive national broadcast package with the NFL. The 11-year deal includes 15 regular-season games and one preseason game per year, with Prime Video also delivering new pregame, halftime, and postgame shows as well as interactive features like X-Ray and Next Gen Stats powered by AWS. Viewers can stream from the web at amazon.com/TNF or by using the Prime Video app.

Since retiring in 2013, Gonzalez – a 14-time Pro-Bowler – served as an analyst for Fox Sports.

He previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs, before ending his career with the Atlanta Falcons.

Josef Martinez Makes MLS History with His ‘Golden Trifecta’

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Josef Martinez has etched his name into the annals of soccer history…

The 25-year-old Venezuelan professional footballer, a striker for the Major League Soccer club Atlanta United, has become the first player in MLS history to be named the MVP of the All-Star Game, season and MLS Cup.

Martinez capped the Golden Trifecta by being named the MVP of Saturday’s title game, a 2-0 win over Portland at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Martinez scored the opening goal and added an assist on Franco Escobar’s capping goal.

Martinez is the third player in MLS Cup history to score a goal and add an assist in the same final. He is the second player in MLS Cup history to score a goal in the final in the same year as winning the Golden Boot.

Martinez was named the league MVP after setting an MLS single-season scoring record with 31 goals during the regular season. He added four more in the playoffs to set a league record for goals in a season.

He was named MVP of the All-Star game after scoring a goal against Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“I am most happy with the (MLS) Cup,” he said. “I think this team has had an incredible year, and I think we just have to appreciate the work of everyone this season, the players and coaching staff, because even though we had some ups and downs as a team, everyone on this team contributed something and made sacrifices. This is a win that we want to celebrate because it has been a long year and thank God also.”

Cheered on by the largest crowd in franchise history, United captured the crown in just its second season to set off a huge celebration in a city that has known so much sporting heartbreak. Owner Arthur Blank got to lift the trophy — less than two years after his other team, the NFL‘s Atlanta Falcons, squandered a 25-point lead in an epic Super Bowl collapse.

Gonzalez Named a Correspondent for CBS’ NFL Pre-Game Show “The NFL Today”

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Tony Gonzalez may be retiring from professional football, but he isn’t leaving the National Football League completely…

The 37-year-old part-Mexican American pro footballer, a 14-time Pro Bowl selection during his nearly 20-year NFL career, has signed on to appear as a correspondent for CBS‘ NFL pre-game show, The NFL Today, next season.

Gonzalez, the ex-Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons tight end, will replace former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and former Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe on the panel.

Gonzalez, the first tight end to ever catch 1,000 passes, just retired from after the 2014 Pro Bowl.

“Having just stepped off the playing field, Tony brings a fresh and insightful perspective,” CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said in a statement Tuesday. “As a future Hall of Famer, we are excited for him to share his knowledge, experiences and opinions with our viewers. Tony was one of the most respected and hardworking players in the NFL and a tremendous teammate. We look forward to him bringing these attributes to CBS Sports.

“While we welcome Tony, we want to acknowledge Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe who have contributed greatly to the success of The NFL Today for more than a decade,” McManus continued. “Dan and Shannon are true Hall of Famers on the field and in front of the camera. As they pursue other professional opportunities, we thank them for their hard work and dedication and wish them nothing but the best.”

The news comes two weeks after CBS acquired the rights to air Thursday Night Football beginning this fall.

Gonzalez joins returning correspondents James Brown, Bill Cowher and Boomer Esiason. In addition to The NFL Today, he will also appear on Showtime‘s Inside the NFL and CBS Sports Network’s That Other Pregame Show.

Gonzalez Returns to the Atlanta Falcons’ Training Camp

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It really is Tony Gonzalez’s last chance…

The 38-year-old part-Mexican pro football star is officially back with the Atlanta Falcons for one last opportunity to win a Super Bowl ring.

After considering retirement and ultimately deciding this spring to return, the tight end returned to the team for training camp but left shortly afterward. Gonzalez had made a promise to his 12-year-old son, Nikko, to be with him as he started his youth football career, meaning he was away from the Falcons for much of training camp.

But Gonzalez is now back with the team again, joining his teammates on Sunday and preparing to play in the Falcons next preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

“It’s time for me to get back there,” Gonzalez told Fox Sports. “I need to get some work with [quarterback] Matt [Ryan] and the offense. I’m excited.”

The Atlanta Falcons are closing their training camp on Sunday, but Tony Gonzalez is expected to get some work in before it closes.

Even though he’s approaching 40, Gonzalez still has a lot left in the tank. Last year he caught 93 passes for 930 yards and eight touchdowns, making the Pro Bowl for the 13th time.

His return gives the Falcons one of the most unstoppable receiving corps in the National Football League. Gonzalez remains a dangerous player with a knack for getting open.

For Tony Gonzalez, 2013 represents the last chance to win a Super Bowl. Until last season he had never won a playoff game, but this year the Falcons are a favorite of many NFL observers to win it all.

Gonzalez to Play One Final Season with the Falcons?

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Tony Gonzalez isn’t about to ride off into the sunset just yet…

Despite hinting at retirement last season, the 37-year-old part-Mexican pro football star has reportedly changed his tune.

The reason? A $7 million contract and a reduced training camp schedule.

The Atlanta Falcons tight end, a 13-time Pro Bowl selection and 10-time All-Pro, has apparently told people he’ll be back for one more season with the Falcons, according to Fox Sports.

“I was done, I thought I had my mind made up,” Gonzalez told Fox Sports. “This whole year I knew it would be my last but the way our final game ended and talking to the guys in the locker room, in the end it was too difficult of a way for me to step away from the game.”

Gonzalez was in tears at the end of last season as his team lost in the NFC Championship game to the San Francisco 49ers.

Only one week before that heartbreaking loss, Gonzalez was part of his first playoff victory in his 17-year career.

Gonzalez was intent last season on focusing on his family. But he says he’s hoping to achieve the one thing that has eluded him in his career so far.

“I am coming back for one reason and one reason only,” he told Fox Sports. “The chance to win a Super Bowl.”

Cruz Earns First Pro Bowl Nomination…

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s only been playing in the NFL for three years, but Victor Cruz has already reached a major career milestone…

The 26-year-old half-Puerto Rican New York Giants wide receiver has earned his first Pro Bowl nomination. Cruz will be joined by two of his teammates, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and guard Chris Snee.

“I’d like to thank all of you who voted for me for this years Pro Bowl. I’m honored to represent the New York Giants,” tweeted Cruz after learning he’d made the NFC reserve team.

Cruz, a second-team All-Pro selection in 2011 who held lead his team to victory at this year’s Super Bowl, holds the Giants franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season with 1,536.

But Cruz wasn’t the only Latino footballer to earn a Pro Bowl nomination…

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez was named to the NFC first team. It’s the 36-year-old part-Mexican American football star’s 13th Pro Bowl selection of his career.

Gonzalez is the Pro Bowl all-time leader in receptions (48) and touchdowns (6).

The 2013 Pro Bowl, the NFL’s all-star game for the 2012 season, will take place on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

“Gonzo” Moves Past Terrell Owens…

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Move over Terrell Owens! There’s a new man taking up the fifth spot on the NFL’s career receiving list: Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez.

The Cuban-American NFL star moved into the No. 5 spot last night during the Falcons’ comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Gonzalez, an eleven-time Pro Bowl selection, now has a whopping 1,081 career receptions.

During Sunday’s oh-so-thrilling game, “Gonzo” caught two touchdown passes to help propel Atlanta to a 35-31 win over the Eagles.His first touchdown catch was pure perfection — possibly one of his greatest grabs ever. Close to the end of the second quarter, “Gonzo” made a nimble catch at the back of the end zone with one hand and managed to keep both feet in-bounds as he fell out of the back of the end zone.

“I knew I had the catch,” said Gonzalez. “I didn’t know if I had the feet down.” Check out the highlight-reel-worthy catch below:

Gonzalez kicked off the scoring in the second half of play with a 17-yard TD catch about three minutes into the game. He ended the night with seven receptions and 83-yards.

After playing college football at the University of California, Berkley, Gonzalez was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft.

Gonzalez, an eleven-time Pro Bowl selection, currently holds the NFL records for single season receptions by a tight end, career touchdowns by a tight end, career receptions by a tight end and reception yards by a tight end.

Images courtesy of Keith Srakocic/Associated Press & John Amis/Associated Press.

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