30 best NFL touchdown celebrations of all-time

28. Tony Gonzalez’s goal post dunk

It’s only been a couple of years since the greatest tight end football has ever seen has retired. Yes, Tony Gonzalez was that good for the Kansas City Chiefs (1997-2008) and the Atlanta Falcons (2009-13). He was a 14-time Pro Bowler, a six-time All-Pro and one of the best players in NFL history to have never played in a Super Bowl.

But Gonzalez was definitely Super. He was at one time a two-sport star for the California Golden Bears in the Pac-10. Gonzalez played a little basketball at power forward, but figured his calling was in the NFL. Good choice, Tony. Not only did he have 1,325 receptions for 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns playing tight end, he got to dunk on NFL goal posts.

Yes, after just about every touchdown Gonzalez caught for the Chiefs and Falcons, he would attack the crossbar like it was the rim at Cal-Berkeley. This was his tribute to being a former basketball player. Keep in mind that ball is life. It was one of those touchdown celebrations that got everyone at Arrowhead Stadium and the Georgia Dome out of their seats.

Did the NFL like Gonzalez dunking on the goal post? Not really. As a matter of fact, they outlawed after some cheap imitation of Gonzalez in the form of Jimmy Graham did it in the Georgia Dome that one time and busted the crossbar. It took at least a decade for the many Atlantans to fix that mess Graham created. If you’re going to dunk in Atlanta, be Tony G or don’t do it, period. This was a reason why we can’t have nice things.