Antonio Gates

Antonio Ethan Gates Sr. (born June 18, 1980) is an American former professional football tight end for the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers during his entire career in the National Football League (NFL).

He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and was a six-time All-Pro selection.

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 (69–61), 2 seed Alabama (71–58) and 3 seed Pittsburgh (78–73).

During his senior season, he 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.

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 receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

Gates started off 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 (12) in a 21–0 win over the Cleveland Browns.

His jersey number, 44, was retired on February 27, 2010, making him just the fourth Golden Flash to receive the honor.

After being told by scouts that he was too much of a "tweener" to make the NBA, Gates (6 ft) 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.

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 (117 yards) 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.

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.

Gates is considered one of the best tight ends and undrafted free agents in NFL history.

Gates was born in Detroit, where he played high school football at Central High School.

Gates played basketball but not 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.

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.

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 (MAC) championship in school history after finishing the regular season with a 24–5 overall record with a 17–1 record in the MAC.

He retired on January 14, 2020, after 16 years with the Chargers.