Longtime tight end Tony Gonzalez announced in an ESPN/Facebook chat on Thursday that he would be retiring from football after the next season.

And it would mark a sad moment for football.

When asked via Facebook chat on Thursday how much longer he'd play for, Gonzalez said:

One year. I said that last year, though, and the year before. But I really do believe this is it. First of all, this is the first time my wife came to me and said, ‘You’re only going to play one more year, right?'

Gonzalez, a 12-time Pro Bowler who owns 10 NFL records, set the standard for the athletic tight end who acts like a receiver. He's eclipsed 90 catches and 1,000 receiving yards in a season four times and has 95 touchdowns in his career.

Before Antonio Gates and Vernon Davis, there was Gonzalez. He single-handedly changed the way we viewed a tight end, and he's continued to produce in his last three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons despite being 35 years old.

You'd love to see Gonzalez win a championship before he retires, but that may prove difficult. The Falcons came into the playoffs with hope this season, but lost to the New York Giants, 24-2, in the Wild Card Round.

On top of that, the Falcons don't have a first-round pick in the draft because they gave up a lot for receiver Julio Jones in the 2011 draft (who turned out to be a good gamble).

Gonzalez, beyond his spectacular play, has always been known as a team player, which only adds to his legacy. The very fact that he announced this now to give the Falcons time to prepare is a noble gesture in itself. Gonzalez not only has been one of the best tight ends in football throughout his career, he's been a role model for kids coming up to the league.

Appreciate Gonzalez next season, because it will be the last time you get to see the man who changed a sport.

WARNING: Video contains explicit lyrics