Antonio Gates

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gates began his athletic journey as a basketball player, wearing size 12 shoes by sixth grade. He attended Michigan State University hoping to play both sports under Nick Saban and Tom Izzo but left when told he must choose defense for football. After stints at Eastern Michigan University and College of the Sequoias, he transferred to Kent State, where he excelled as a power forward. As a senior, he earned honorable mention All-American honors with 20.6 points per game. His jersey number 44 was retired by Kent State on February 27, 2010.

In Their Own Story

In 2003, despite never playing college football, Gates arranged workouts for NFL scouts after being labeled a "tweener" for the NBA. Nineteen teams reportedly contacted him, but he chose to work out first for the San Diego Chargers, who signed him immediately as an undrafted free agent. His rookie season saw him rise from third string to starter, recording his first 100-yard game (117 yards) against Green Bay in week 15 and finishing with two touchdowns. By 2004, he became a preferred target for quarterback Drew Brees, breaking the single-season touchdown record for tight ends by catching 13 scores. On December 26, 2004, he broke his own record of 12 touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts in overtime. He later became the second tight end and ninth player overall to reach 100 career touchdown receptions in 2015, finishing with 116 total.

Reader's Guide

Gates holds every major receiving record for the Chargers, leading the franchise in yards and touchdowns while ranking seventh all-time in NFL history with 116 career touchdowns. He was the first player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame without playing college football, a milestone achieved in 2025. His career spanned 16 seasons entirely with one organization, showcasing remarkable longevity despite injuries like a dislocated toe in 2007 that required surgery. He earned eight Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro nods, proving his consistency against elite defenses. From his early days breaking records in the mid-2000s to his final season in 2018, Gates remains the definitive model for the modern receiving tight end.

Did You Know?

• Gates is the first player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame without ever playing college football.
• He played two seasons as a power forward at Kent State, leading them to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.
• In his junior year at Kent State, he averaged 16.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
• Gates broke the NFL single-season touchdown record for tight ends twice in one season (2004), finishing with 13 touchdowns.
• His jersey number 44 was retired by Kent State University on February 27, 2010.