Tony Gonzalez joins CBS as NFL analyst

Former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez caught 83 passes and had eight touchdowns last season. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez will join the CBS NFL Today pregame show, replacing Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe, CBS Sports announced Tuesday.

The new pregame cast consists of James Brown, former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, former quarterback Boomer Esiason and Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who was selected to 14 Pro Bowls, retired after this season. He set an NFL record for tight ends by catching 1,325 passes for 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns in his career.

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