Tony Gonzalez was drafted No. 13 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1997 NFL Draft out of California. 270 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #13
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1997
- NFL games
- 270
- Years as starter
- 16
- Career AV
- 955th at California
- Pro Bowls
- 14
- All-Pro
- 6
The pick
How Tony Gonzalez came off the board in 1997.
- Position
- Tight end TE
- College
-
California
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
270 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value
- Games played
- 270
- Seasons as a starter
- 16
- Career approximate value
- 955th among California picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 7478% of career value
- Final season
- 201316 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 14× Pro Bowl
Around pick 13
Who came off the board on either side of Tony Gonzalez.
Nebraska
Florida State · 3× Pro Bowl
Miami
California in the 1997 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other TE picks from California
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Tony Gonzalez in the 1997 NFL Draft
Tony Gonzalez is a Tight end out of California selected No. 13 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1997 NFL Draft. 270 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value California has produced 138 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Tony Gonzalez drafted?
Tony Gonzalez was selected No. 13 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1997 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/tony-gonzalez.
What college did Tony Gonzalez play for?
Tony Gonzalez played college football at California in the ACC. See every California draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/california-golden-bears.
How did Tony Gonzalez's NFL career turn out?
270 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 14× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/tony-gonzalez.