As an American with a multiethnic lineage, Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez wants to learn Spanish and reconnect with his Latino roots. Jeremy Schaap caught up with Gonzalez to discuss chasing his "lindos suenos"-- beautiful dreams. (13:56)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tony Gonzalez will have more on his mind than just his final game at Candlestick Park, or all of the family and friends making the trip from Southern California.

One of Tony Gonzalez's fondest memories of Candlestick Park came during a game when he was with the Chiefs and was something that, at the time 13 years ago, was downright terrifying. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

On Monday night, the veteran Atlanta Falcons tight end will most certainly remember a chance meeting with a man named Mickey Pfleger.

Among the retiring star's fondest memories of Candlestick Park is something that, at the time 13 years ago, was downright terrifying.

On Nov. 12, 2000, while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Gonzalez took a late hit out of bounds and ran into a photographer and knocked him unconscious.

"I remember a play coming toward me rather quickly along the southwest sideline," wrote Pfleger, who died three years ago. "I remember standing up and starting to move backward to get out of the way, like I always do when a play comes toward me. That's the last thing I remember until I came to and realize that I am laying on my back looking at paramedics and doctors."

Gonzalez was concerned but had to keep playing.

"His eyes were in the back of his head," Gonzalez recalled. "He was knocked out, unconscious. I tried to help him up, but people were like, 'Hey, get back in the huddle.'"

Gonzalez later saw the ambulance take the man away for further tests at a local hospital. But it wasn't until three days later that he learned Pfleger's brain scan had revealed a significant tumor that was cancerous.