Tony Gonzalez will have to wait at least five years before he undoubtedly enters the NFL’s Hall of Fame as the game’s greatest receiving tight end.

For now, however, there’s one NFL legend whose name he doesn’t want to associate himself with, as far as retirement is concerned.

At the risk of becoming the next Brett Favre, who famously retired and unretired multiple times at the end of his career, Gonzalez made it clear this week that today’s NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium will be his final game as a professional.

"It will be my last game for sure, I promise you that," Gonzalez said Thursday, "and I’m going to have a good time doing it."

The Atlanta Falcons tight end arrived in Honolulu late Wednesday after his last-minute selection to the game as the replacement for San Francisco’s Vernon Davis.

Gonzalez thought his career was over following a 21-20 loss to Carolina nearly a month ago, but he says he’s still in shape to compete on the same field as the game’s best.

"I really thought that last game against the Carolina Panthers was going to be the last time I put on a helmet and shoulder pads," Gonzalez said. "I’m not the type of guy who’s going to take any time off. I’m still working out, I’ve played basketball, I’m good to go."

Gonzalez will have one last chance to add to his Pro Bowl record of 49 receptions. For his career, Gonzalez will finish with 1,325 receptions, 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns, which are all records for tight ends.

The 18-year NFL veteran was all set to hang it up following his 13th Pro Bowl selection a year ago.

His NFL team, the Falcons, made it all the way to the NFC championship game before losing to the 49ers, and the thought of getting so close to his first Super Bowl appearance lured him back for one final try.

It didn’t go the way he wanted, as the Falcons were one of the league’s biggest disappointments, finishing 4-12 after going 13-3 in 2012.

It’s not all bad, though, as Gonzalez will play his last game as part of Jerry Rice’s Pro Bowl team, matching the game’s greatest receiving tight end with a guy who is widely considered the game’s best wide receiver.

"When I was growing up, he was somebody I watched a whole lot and I hadn’t had the opportunity to play against him that much, so to play for him, a team captain, at the end of my career is pretty cool, pretty neat," Gonzalez said.

With his playing career behind him, Gonzalez was already setting up the next phase of his life but said he had no problems canceling meetings and a trip to the Bay Area in order to make one last plane ride out to the islands.

"This trip is unbelievable and it’s why I keep coming here every time they ask," Gonzalez said. "I had to cancel a couple of things, but I gladly would put those things off to come over here and spend some time with the guys."

In recent years, the Pro Bowl has paid special tributes to longtime players who are retiring after the game. Gonzalez hasn’t heard of anything special planned in his honor, but there is a certain up-and-coming tight end he’s more than willing to let take his place.

"If they do have one, shoot, I’m going to get (New Orleans tight end) Jimmy Graham to do it," Gonzalez said. "He’s a lot younger than me. I’m out there to have a good time and not get hit."