Class of 2025: Antonio Gates – From the hardwood to the Hall of Fame

By Barry Wilner
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

As a youngster, Antonio Gates set his sights on success as a basketball player. Football? Not in his future. Or so he thought.

On Saturday, Gates was enshrined into the Hall of Fame – the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

More than 30,000 men have played in the NFL. Gates is identified as the 381st to earn a Gold Jacket. And the only one never to play a snap of college ball.

An outstanding tight end for the Chargers through 16 seasons, Gates spent 14 years in San Diego and two in Los Angeles.

“Let me tell you a story about me,” Gates said during his enshrinement speech at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, with 104 of his new teammates on hand. “Some may know, some may not, but I was a college basketball player. I never played a down of college football.

“Then, out of nowhere, Coach Rob Murphy introduced me to Tim Brewster, at the time the tight ends coach for the Chargers. Tim Brewster saw something special in me. He was confident I’d be an All-Pro tight end in three years.

“Switching sports can be a life-changing experience. The unexpected opportunities are often the most powerful ones, because they can completely redirect your life — if you’re ready to take advantage of the opportunity.”

And did Gates ever take advantage. He made three All-Pro squads, was twice a second-teamer and went to eight Pro Bowls. Working with star quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, Gates totaled 11,841 yards on 955 receptions, scoring 116 touchdowns. No other tight end in NFL history had more TDs. His 21 games with more than one touchdown leads all tight ends. Of his 955 catches, 651 resulted in either a first down or a touchdown.

A team leader throughout his NFL career, Gates recognized the guidance and opportunities he was given by his Chargers coaches, and he saluted the quarterbacks who fed him the ball.

“To Coach Tim Brewster, thank you,” he said. “And to the late, great Marty Schottenheimer, thank you, because you gave me the opportunity to play tight end in the NFL. Because of you, now NFL teams and scouts will never look at college basketball players the same again.”

Gates praised legendary tight ends who paved the way and former teammates who built a culture of success. Then special mention went to running back LaDainian Tomlinson, whom Gates called “one of the greatest to ever do it.”

Chants of “LT” rang out from the crowd.

“LT, sharing the field with you was like watching poetry in motion,” Gates said of the Hall of Fame running back. “You set a standard not just by how you played, but how you prepared. I learned just by watching you, and every Sunday I felt lucky to be on the same side as number 21. 

“Thank you for being not just a Hall of Fame player, but because you are a Hall of Fame teammate.”

And, of course, Gates revered the guys who threw the ball to him.

“Doug Flutie, thank you. You threw me my first touchdown, Drew Brees kick-started my career. Thank you. And then there’s Philip Rivers.

“Phil, what we had on that football field was special. You weren’t just a guy throwing the ball, you were the heartbeat of the offense — the fire, the passion. Your IQ was unmatched. We saw the game the same way. You trusted me, and I trusted you, and that trust led to some of the best moments of my career. I always knew where that ball was going, and I always knew it was coming with a purpose.

“Philip Rivers, it was an absolute pleasure to have played with you.”

Ah, the memories, which go all the way back to Gates’ childhood. He thanked his five siblings and his parents for sending him in the right direction and never wavering.

“Mom, I watched you raise five kids and never complain. You believed in me before I could ever believe in myself. You gave me everything: love, time, wisdom, and yeah, you gave me a lot of whoopings,” Gates recalled, drawing laughs from the crowd. “I carry that with me every step of the way, and I want you to know you are an unbelievable mom.

“To my father, who is not here — he passed away at the beginning of this year, but I know he’s watching, bragging about his son. I just want to thank him for teaching me how to be a man, for teaching me strength, toughness and giving me my competitive edge. 

“This Hall of Fame honor may have my name on it, but make no mistake, Dad, it carries your fingerprints, your spirit and your legacy. I am who I am because of you.”

Gates began his journey to Canton as a football and basketball player at Central High School in Detroit. He was recruited for football to Michigan State, didn’t get on the field as a freshman, then transferred out because the football coach – some guy named Nick Saban – didn’t want Gates playing hoops for the Spartans.

He wound up at Eastern Michigan, then a junior college, and, at last, found a home just down the road from the Hall of Fame at Kent State. A home on the court.

How good was Gates at roundball? As an undersized power forward, he led the school to the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. He was mentioned for some All-American squads the next year as a senior when he averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

Then it was on to … the NFL?

Undrafted, Gates joined the Chargers as a true outsider. Yet it soon became clear he belonged, using his intelligence, size, strength and mobility to reach the pinnacle at his position.

On the way, he set the kind of example anyone would be proud of.

“To all the kids out there around street gangs, violence, drugs, who want to make something out of life — I’m living proof. If you stay focused, stay on the right path, if you’ve got heart, if you hustle and you never stop believing, anything is possible.”

Gates grew teary-eyed when addressing his children in the audience.

“To my kids, my babies: You are my everything,” he said. “Every choice I make, everything I do, I carry you with me. You are my heartbeat. You have taught me more about love, patience and purpose than I ever learned playing football, from a playbook or from sports. I hope watching me today shows you that anything is possible — not just in football, but in life. 

“Dream big, work hard and never forget where you come from. This moment, this honor — it’s not just about me, it’s about us, the Gates family. I love you more than anything in the world.”