Tony Gonzalez To Join CBS As NFL Analyst, Replacing Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe

Despite leaving the door open for a possible return to the Atlanta Falcons, future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez has elected to travel a new career path. Following a season in which he caught 83 passes for 859 yards and eight touchdowns, the 37-year-old California native has decided to enter the television business, indicating this week that he’ll join the CBS Network as an NFL analyst. Gonzalez has always had a strong personality that was visible to the public through various interviews but now that he’ll have the opportunity to dissect and analyze the game he played at a high level for 12 seasons, No. 88 should have no problem adjusting to his new career.

According to CBS Sports, Tony Gonzalez will join former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason and Super Bowl champion coach Bill Cowher for CBS’ pregame show ‘The NFL Today,’ replacing former analysts Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe, who will not return to the set for the 2014-2015 NFL season after spending over a decade with the successful program. Happy to announce the partnership between CBS and Gonzalez, CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said this week that adding someone with Gonzalez’s resume will only enhance the program. McManus also thanked Sharpe and Marino for their dedicated service to the success of ‘The NFL Today.’

“Having just stepped off the playing field, Tony brings a fresh and insightful perspective,” McManus said. “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. 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.”

Just as CBS is happy to land Tony Gonzalez, the Torrance, California native – who finishes his stellar career with 1,325 receptions for over 15,000 yards and 111 scores – is nothing short of elated to be teaming with one of the most-watched NFL shows in the industry. In addition to working the pregame program, Gonzalez will also have a role on ‘Inside the NFL’ and ‘That Other Pregame Show,’ two shows with strong viewership.

“I just felt really comfortable with CBS and the team,” Gonzalez said. “I felt they wanted me to come work -- I got that sense more so than all the other places I was looking at. I want to stretch myself out and see what works and what doesn't work. Them believing in me and having the confidence because I've obviously never done this before. I'm humbled by it and thankful for it. They want me to have some experience in this and that and find out what I'm good at. And that's what this process is, seeing what I've got to get good at.