Tony Gonzalez loves Chiefs, Travis Kelce in 2015
January 23, 2014; Honolulu, HI, USA; Team Rice tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Atlanta Falcons (88) signs autographs for fans during practice for the 2014 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Tony Gonzalez is the greatest tight end in National Football League history. Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 13th-overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, Gonzalez went on to star for 12 seasons in the heartland before finishing his Hall of Fame career with five seasons for the Atlanta Falcons.
When the smoke cleared, Gonzalez caught 1,325 passes for 12,127 yards and 111 touchdowns. Only Jerry Rice has more receiving yards, and all three of the aforementioned stats are records for a tight end. Gonzalez made 14 Pro Bowls and was a 10-time All-Pro. Now, Gonzalez works as an analyst for CBS Sports and was kind enough to sit with me earlier this week and talk about what he sees for the Chiefs in 2015.
While most are focusing on Kansas City’s stellar defense as the main reason the Chiefs can contend, Gonzalez sees a potentially prolific offense brewing.
“I’m going to pick them to win the AFC West this year,” Gonzalez said. “As long as everybody stays healthier. I thought they were on their way to doing that last year but then people got hurt. Jamaal got dinged up, Derrick Johnson was out, Eric Berry was out. All three of those guys are back and healthy. Now Jeremy Maclin is out there and Travis Kelce on offense. Jeremy Maclin is going to give them a whole added dimension at that position. Andy Reid is going to get him open. Alex Smith will have a touchdown pass, early in the season this year.
“With Travis Kelce, I love him at the tight end position. He runs good routes, he’s a big guy, he is tough to match up with, to go along with Jamaal Charles. Look at him, and you see what he has averaged over his career running the football, it is better than Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, all of those guys. We are not talking about a guy who has played one or two years. I played with him when I was in Kansas City. I really believe they can get that playoff victory this year.”
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