Antonio Gates
Antonio Ethan Gates Jr. is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 16-year career as a tight end for the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League from 2003 to 2018. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and was a six-time All-Pro selection. Gates was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
Gates was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003 after playing college basketball for the Kent State Golden Flashes. He attended college at Kent State University in his junior and senior years after brief stints at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University. He is the Chargers' career leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. In 2015, he became the second tight end and ninth player overall to record 100 career touchdown receptions. He ranks seventh in career touchdown receptions, with 116, and leads all tight ends in NFL history. He was the first player to be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame without playing college football. Gates is considered one of the best tight ends and undrafted free agents in NFL history.
Early life
Antonio Ethan Gates Jr. was born on June 18, 1980, in Detroit, Michigan. He wore a size 12 shoe by sixth grade and stood entering high school. Gates played high school football and basketball at Central High School. As a freshman, he led their basketball team in scoring.College career
Gates played basketball rather than football in college. He originally enrolled at Michigan State University wanting to play football under then-coach Nick Saban as well as basketball under coach Tom Izzo. Upon enrolling, he learned that Saban wanted him to play only football. Moreover, the coach wanted to move him to defense as a defensive end or linebacker. Gates then chose to pursue playing basketball by transferring to Eastern Michigan University. He played there part of a season before transferring to the College of the Sequoias, a junior college in California, to focus on academics. Recruited by Stan Heath, Gates transferred to Kent State University in northeastern Ohio.As a member of the Golden Flashes, Gates played two seasons as power forward. In his junior season he averaged 16.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. His junior season his team won its first regular season Mid-American Conference championship in school history after finishing the regular season with a 24–5 overall record with a 17–1 record in the MAC. Gates helped the Golden Flashes win their second consecutive MAC tournament and earn its resulting berth in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. In the tournament, he gave crucial performances that helped Kent State reach the Elite Eight as a 10 seed by upsetting 7 seed Oklahoma State, 2 seed Alabama and 3 seed Pittsburgh. He was named second-team All-MAC for the 2002 season.
As a senior, Gates received honorable mention All-American honors from the Associated Press after averaging 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He finished with a record of 54–16 in two years of playing. He also earned first-team All-MAC recognition in 2003.
His jersey number, 44, was retired on February 27, 2010, making him just the fourth Golden Flash to receive the honor.
Professional career
After being told by scouts that he was too much of a "tweener" to make the NBA, Gates arranged a workout in front of NFL scouts. Despite never having played college football, as many as 19 teams were believed to have contacted Gates about a tryout. Gates chose to work out first for the San Diego Chargers. Recognizing his potential, the Chargers immediately signed him to a contract as an undrafted free agent.2003
Lost in the disappointment of San Diego's league-worst 4–12 record was Gates' rise from third string to starter. He made his first catch in week 4 against the Oakland Raiders, scored his first touchdown in week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings, and enjoyed his first 100-yard receiving game against the Green Bay Packers in week 15. Gates caught 24 passes for 389 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. His 16.2 yards per reception were the highest of his career.2004
Gates started the 2004 season strong with eight receptions for 123 receiving yards in a 27–20 victory over the Houston Texans. In week 5, he had two receiving touchdowns in a 34–21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In week 8, against the Oakland Raiders, he had another game with two receiving touchdowns in the 42–14 victory. In the following game, he recorded three receiving touchdowns in a 43–17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Gates had his third consecutive game finding the endzone in the next game against the Oakland Raiders with an eight-catch, 101-yard day in the 23–17 victory. In the following game, against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had two receiving touchdowns in the 34–31 victory. A preferred target of quarterback Drew Brees, Gates finished his second season in the NFL with 81 receptions for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns.On December 19, Gates tied the NFL single season record for touchdown receptions by a tight end in a 21–0 win over the Cleveland Browns. He went on to break this record in an overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on December 26.
Gates was selected to the 2005 Pro Bowl and earned first team All-Pro honors. Gates scored a touchdown in the Wild Card Round overtime loss to the New York Jets.
2005
On August 23, 2005, after holding out for a contract extension, Gates signed a six-year deal worth up to $24 million with the San Diego Chargers. Because of his holdout, Gates was suspended for one game–the home opener against the Dallas Cowboys, a loss. In week 8, against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had ten receptions for 145 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the 28–20 victory. In the following game, he had eight receptions for 132 receiving yards in the 31–26 victory over the New York Jets. In week 14, he had 13 receptions for 123 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 23–21 loss to the Miami Dolphins.Gates went on to have another stellar season, catching 89 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns, but the Chargers missed the playoffs by a single win. He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned first team All-Pro honors.
2006
Gates had a relatively quiet start to the season, but he finished the year strongly and ended up with 924 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He caught two touchdown passes on December 10 in a 48–20 victory the Denver Broncos to help the Chargers clinch their division.Gates was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro for the third straight year. Undefeated at Qualcomm during the regular season, the Chargers and their fans anticipated a trip to the Super Bowl but they were beaten at home 24–21 by the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.
2007
Gates started off the 2007 season with nine receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown in the 14–3 victory over the Chicago Bears. In week 3, he had 11 receptions for 113 receiving yards against the Green Bay Packers. In week 5, against the Denver Broncos, he had seven receptions for 113 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in the 41–3 victory. In week 8 against the Houston Texans and in week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens, he had two receiving touchdowns in each game.For his 2007 season, Gates was selected to the Pro Bowl. During the season, he caught 75 passes for 984 yards and nine touchdowns. He was once again a key factor during the Chargers' 11–5 campaign, but not during the playoffs. Gates dislocated a toe on his right foot just before the postseason, which slowed him down during the Chargers' playoff run.
Gates was not the only Chargers star player injured: both LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers had leg injuries which hindered the Chargers' chances of reaching the Super Bowl. However, the Chargers did eventually play in the AFC Championship, which they lost 21–12 to the New England Patriots.
2008
Gates said he was leaning toward having surgery to repair a dislocated left big toe that slowed his performance during the 2007–08 NFL playoffs, but was undecided on whether to have surgery or not, "There is higher chance I'm going to have surgery". Gates also pulled out of his fifth Pro Bowl selection because of his injuries alongside his teammate LaDainian Tomlinson. Gates finished the season with 60 receptions for 704 yards and eight touchdowns.On February 23, 2008, Gates said he would have foot surgery to fix the injury that had slowed him in the final part of the season. He would face a 4–6 month recovery time. Gates seemed questionable for week 1 and even sounded worried about his status for the opening day of the 2008 season; however, he ended up playing every game despite complaints that his toe was bothering him during the first half of the season.
2009
In week 4, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gates had nine receptions for 124 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 38–28 loss. In week 12, against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had seven receptions for 118 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 43–14 victory. In the following game, he had a season-high 167 receiving yards on eight receptions in the 30–23 victory over the Cleveland Browns. He closed the season out with four consecutive games with a receiving touchdown. Finally healthy after consecutive injury-plagued seasons, Gates enjoyed the most productive year of his career. He caught 79 passes for a career-high 1,157 yards and eight touchdowns. He was named to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl.The team finished the year with 13 wins, one of the best records of the year. However, they were eliminated in their first postseason game by the New York Jets in the Divisional Round.
2010
Gates began the 2010 season by signing a five-year, $36 million contract with $20 million guaranteed. In week 2, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he recorded two receiving touchdowns in the 38–13 victory. In week 4, against the Arizona Cardinals, he had seven receptions for 144 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 41–10 victory. In the first nine games of the 2010 season, he had 40 receptions and nine touchdowns.Despite being limited by foot injuries throughout the second half of the 2010 season, Gates earned a Pro Bowl selection for his seventh consecutive year; however, as a result of his lingering injuries, Gates did not participate in the game. He was ranked 22nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.