Tony Gonzalez in, Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe out at CBS

Tony Gonzalez (Photo: cbssports.com)
Tony Gonzalez (Photo: cbssports.com)

Any thought that Tony Gonzalez might change his mind about retirement (again) can probably put to rest, as Gonzalez has a high-profile new job: CBS has announced that Gonzalez is joining its pregame show.

As part of the same announcement, CBS said Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe will no longer appear on The NFL Today. The new cast of the show will be James Brown, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Gonzalez.

“Having just stepped off the playing field, Tony brings a fresh and insightful perspective,” CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said in a statement. “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.”

Gonzalez was the first-round draft pick of the Chiefs in 1997, and played in Kansas City for 11 years, then played five more years in Atlanta. Gonzalez was chosen to 14 Pro Bowls, tied for the most of any player in NFL history, and is the all-time record holder for touchdowns and yards by a tight end. Although he initially said he would retire after the 2012 season, he returned for 2013. From all indications he now really is retired and is ready to embark on a career in broadcasting.

Source: Pro Football Talk