Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, who played the last game of a Hall of Fame career on Sunday, was one of the most respected players in the NFL. Players on the Panthers made sure Gonzalez knew that.
NFL Films had Gonzalez wear a microphone for Sunday’s Panthers-Falcons game, and among the moments shown on this week’s Inside the NFL was an exchange Gonzalez had with Panthers quarterback Cam Newton after the game. Newton embraced Gonzalez and told him how much he has looked up to him.
“You’re a role model to a lot of people like me,” Newton said.
An even more interesting exchange took place during the game: Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis approached Gonzalez on the field and asked him, “Any way possible I could get a signed jersey from you?”
Gonzalez looked a little taken aback to get that request during a game, but answered, “Yeah. Like, after the season.”
There aren’t many players who get hit up for autographs on the field between plays, but there aren’t as many players who have earned as much respect around the NFL as Tony Gonzalez.