The Atlanta Falcons today announced that tight end Tony Gonzalez has signed a one-year contract extension.
Gonzalez was named to the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl for the 12th time in his career this season. Entering the regular season finale, he has 79 catches for 867 yards and seven touchdowns. The All-Pro tight end ranks third in the NFL in receptions and fourth in receiving yards among tight ends this season. 2011 marks the 13th straight season that he's caught at least 60 passes, which is and NFL record and he has improved his NFL record for touchdown receptions by a tight end to 95.
Gonzalez moved into second place on the NFL's all-time receptions list with a two-yard catch in the second quarter of Atlanta's Week 7 win over the Detroit Lions and has now recorded 1,148 career receptions. Gonzalez trails only WR Jerry Rice who had 1,549 receptions during his Hall of Fame career.
He passed WR Andre Reed for 11th place on the NFL's all-time receiving list in Week 14 and he is the first tight end, and 13th player in NFL history, to have over 13,000 receiving yards in a career. Gonzalez holds nearly every NFL record at the tight end position, including most career receiving yards, most career receptions, most receptions in a single season, most touchdown catches, most 100-yard receiving games and most 1,000-yard seasons.
Since being acquired by Falcons in 2009 via trade, Gonzalez has posted 19 touchdowns, which is the fourth most by a tight end in the NFL during that time span. He has also notched 232 receptions, which ranks second in the League among tight ends behind Jason Witten (260).
Gonzalez tweeted from his official Twitter account after the news was announced: "Very happy to be coming back next year to play. I love everything about the Falcons and the city of Atlanta."
