Gonzalez, Allen Named to the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl Squad

Dec 18, 2007, 3:00:00 PM

The National Football League announced on Tuesday that the Kansas City Chiefs will be represented by two players on the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl squad. TE Tony Gonzalez will be making his ninth consecutive appearance, the most appearances in NFL history by a tight end. DE Jared Allen was named as a starter to the AFC Pro Bowl squad, marking the first time in his career he has been selected to make the trip to Hawaii. The annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium on February 10, 2008.

“We are very proud that Tony Gonzalez has been selected to his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl,” Chiefs President Carl Peterson said. “Very few players have displayed the outstanding level of consistency that Tony has demonstrated over the years. As both a player and a person, Kansas City is fortunate to have Tony as a member of our community. We are equally as proud of Jared Allen for earning his first Pro Bowl invitation. Jared has worked exceptionally hard to become a complete defensive player. This is a well-deserved recognition for him and we hope that he will be joined by more Chiefs defensive players in the Pro Bowl in future years.”

Gonzalez (6-5, 251) came to Kansas City as the club’s first-round draft choice (13th overall) in ‘97 and is the only Chiefs TE ever selected to the Pro Bowl. Gonzalez joins Fred Arbanas as the only other Kansas City TE to earn a berth in the Pro Bowl or the AFL All-Star Game. Arbanas made five AFL All-Star appearances (’62-65 and ‘67).

The University of California product has re-written the Chiefs receiving record book, owning the franchise’s career marks with 803 catches, 9,681 receiving yards and 66 touchdowns. Gonzalez is also first in NFL history among tight ends in career TDs and needs just 13 catches and 380 yards to top the charts in those two categories, as well. In 172 career games (156 starts), the Huntington Beach, California native is one of only three tight ends to lead his franchise in career receptions.

Gonzalez currently leads the Chiefs with 82 catches for 971 yards and five touchdowns through the first 14 games of the 2007 season. His 82 catches are the second-highest total among NFL tight ends while his 971 receiving yards are tied for second among players at his position. Gonzalez has recorded 60+ receptions in a team-record nine consecutive seasons, the longest streak by a tight end in NFL history. He has caught a pass in 113 consecutive games, the second-longest streak by a tight end in league annals.

Allen (6-6, 270) was a fourth-round pick of the Chiefs in the 2004 NFL Draft. He is the club’s first defensive player selected to the Pro Bowl since S Jerome Woods was picked following the 2003 season. The Idaho State alum is also the team’s first defensive lineman to earn a trip to Hawaii since DE Neil Smith and DT Dan Saleaumua represented the Chiefs after the ‘95 season.

In 12 games this season Allen has posted a team-high 11.5 sacks, 58 tackles (53 solo), 16 QB pressures, 11 passes defensed and two forced fumbles. The Los Gatos, California native has also blocked a field goal and caught a one-yard touchdown pass in 2007. Allen’s 11.5 sacks are tied for sixth in the NFL and his four multi-sack games this season rank first in NFL.

In 59 career games (53 starts) Allen has posted 248 tackles (192 solo), 39.0 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, 113 QB pressures and one interception. His 39.0 career sacks are the seventh-highest total in Chiefs annals and he ranks fourth in club history with 12 forced fumbles, needing just two more to surpass CB Kevin Ross (13) for third.