Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said Sunday's NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers was "probably" his last NFL game, echoing his comments made throughout the season that he was 95 percent sure he would retire after this season.
"It's probably the last time I'm going to wear that uniform," Gonzalez said after the Falcons' 28-24 loss. "I didn't want to take it off, to tell you the truth. All good things come to an end and, like I said all season long, this is probably my last one. What an unbelievable ride."
In Sunday's game Gonzalez had eight catches for 72 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown reception with 25 seconds remaining in the first half.
The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer was voted to his third straight Pro Bowl in four seasons with the Falcons, but said Sunday that he's unlikely to play in the game. His 2012 selection was the 13th time he'r been voted to the league's all-star game.
"I'm not going to cry about it," Gonzalez said after the conclusion of his 16th season. "I walk away with the satisfaction I left everything, absolutely everything, every time I was on the field.
"I wish it would have culminated with the Super Bowl, but it didn't."
Drafted 13th overall by the Chiefs in 1997, Gonzalez is second on the career receptions list with 1,242 and is the most decorated tight end in NFL history, ranking first at the position and sixth overall with 103 touchdown catches. At 14,268 yards, he's seventh on the career receiving list.
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