Antonio Gates

Full name: Antonio Ethan Gates Jr.

Birthdate: June 18, 1980

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan

High school: Central (Detroit, Mich.)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: Jan. 14, 2025

Other members of the Class of 2025: Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe.

Pro career: 16 seasons, 236 games.

Drafted: Undrafted, signed as undrafted free agent in 2003 by San Diego Chargers

Uniform number: 85

I know what y'all are trying to do. I ain't crying today. I'm just saying I'm not gonna cry today. 

Well, you know this last couple of days have just been unbelievable. You know, still wrapping my head around it all. First, I like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to display my gifts, also for allowing me to be here today. Man, it's truly an honor. I'd like to thank the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I'd like to thank Jim Porter and his staff and all the NFL fans all over the world.

Love you too, man.

You know, it's funny. As I stand here, I'm overwhelmed, not just by the honor of this moment, but by the journey I had to travel to get here. You see this Gold Jacket. It doesn't really just represent the game of football. It represents my family; it represents my faith; it represents my sacrifice and a whole bunch of love from all of y'all out here. So that's why I want to take this time to thank those that God put into my life that allowed me to get here. 

First, I want to thank my parents. 

Mom: I watched you raise five kids and never complain.

You believed in me before I could believe in myself. You gave me everything. 

Mom, you gave me time. You gave me love. You gave me wisdom. Oh yeah, you gave me a lot of whoopings, too. Mom, I just want you to know that I carried it with me every step of my career, and often I know you wonder how you was as a mom. I just want you to know you was an unbelievable mom. So thank you, Mom. 

To my father. 

My father passed away earlier this year, and I know he's smiling down, watching, bragging on his son. But my father taught me how to be a man, taught me strength, taught me toughness, although this bust might have my name on it, but make no mistake about it, it has my father's fingerprints, his legacy and his spirit. I am who I am today because of my father. So Dad, rest in peace, and I love you.

To my brothers and sisters -- Joann, Joe Jr., Jarrly, Tina, Lil Mattie -- thank you all for keeping it real every time I came home from San Diego. We've been through a lot this last year, but I want each and every one of you to know that I've never taken a single one of you for granted. So thank you, and I love you, too.

To my little brother, Moe, Mohammad, I don't say it enough, little bro, but thank you. Thank you for just being you, little brother, always showing up when it counts. We have a bond that's like no other, and not because we're just blood, because it's love, it's history, it's trust. I am grateful for you, little brother. I would always be there for you, just like you've always been there for me, death before dishonor, and that's written in my soul. I love you, little brother.

To my kids, my babies. You're my everything. Every choice I make, everything I do, I carry you with me. You ... I said I wasn't gonna cry, but ... you're my heartbeat. You taught me more about love, patience and purpose than I ever learned about playing football or in the playbook. I just hope, by watching me today, you understand that anything is possible, not just in football, but in the game of life. Dream big, work hard and never, ever forget where you come from. This moment, this honor, it's just not about me, it's about us. The Gates, family. I love you more than anything in the world. I love you, kids, and thank you.

To Denise White and EAG sports: I want to say thank you. You've been more than just a manager to me, Denise. You've been a true friend through all my highs and lows. You was always there. I know I haven't always made it easy for you, but you're there year by year, day by day, with your patience and your loyalty. Thank you, Denise White and EAG Sports, for walking this journey with me. Thank you.

To the city of Detroit: What up, dog? You taught me pride. You taught me how to fight through everything and never quit. That blue-collar spirit, the heartbeat of the city. It lives in me. It always has. I remember growing up in the streets of Detroit, and we would use like crates, and we played basketball, and we would cut the bottom out for hoops, and I would play with my boy Gary Morrison or Dwight Smith, or my boy Tank, Leon Bryant. He would take me to University of Detroit, and we'd watch high school basketball at Callahan Hall, or a friend of mine named Matt Ishbia, and his dad, Jeff, would come pick me up and take me to AAU practices. Shout out to the Michigan Mustangs. My point is that Detroit, you helped shape my dreams. So when I would play in these NFL stadiums, I always felt like I had to represent the block that I came from. Shout out to Linwood, Daxter, Puritan Avenue. This one is for us, West Side of Detroit. This is for us.

To Detroit Central High School: That's where my foundation was built. The school wasn't fancy. The weight room was old, but the love, the belief. Man, that was everything to my teammates. Dante Darling, Jimmy Twyman, Gam Martez, Welsh, Dwight Smith, man, we was just kids chasing a dream. Not knowing what life would take us, but we did it together. We had heart. Those practices, those bus rides, singing those songs, that state championship, that was the beginning of everything for me. You were my first real team.

You had my back before anyone even knew my name.

I just want you all to know that I never forgot those days. I never forgot where it all started. You helped build this Hall of Famer, so thank you to my Detroit High School teammates.

To my coaches at Central High School: Late, great Coach Woody Thomas; late, great Doc Wilson; Coach Eric Smith; Coach Jimmy Macon; Coach Lorenzo Morris. You taught me discipline and respect. Made sure I understood that greatness isn't given, it's earned with one rep at a time, one day at a time. So thank you, coaches.

To coach Oronda Telleferi: I want to thank you, Coach Oronda Telleferi. You helped me get out of the streets of Detroit. You didn't just teach me about sports. You taught me how to think differently. You taught me how to structure because of you. Coach Oronda Telleferi, I'm in a better place -- physically, mentally and emotionally. You helped me rewrite my story. Coach Oronda Telleferi, you helped me rewrite my story. So thank you, Coach.

To all the kids out there around gang violence and drugs who want to make something out of your life. Well, I'm living proof. If you stay focused, stay on the right path, you got heart, you got hustle and never stop believing, anything is possible.

To Kent State University: Kent State, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kent State is where I learned how to take my raw talent and turn it into much more. Kent is also where I learned how to lead and represent something bigger than myself.

To my teammates: John Merritt, Andrew Mitchell, Dre Haynes, Anthony Wilkins and so many more. How we battled together. We built something special, those MAC championships, that Elite Eight run. How special was that? From the bottom of my heart, some of the funnest times of my life at Kent State University. So, Kent State University, I want to thank you.

To my Kent State coaches: Coach Rob Senderoff, Coach Jim Christian, Coach Stan Heath. Thank you, all, for giving me the tools I needed to turn my potential into a purpose. So thank you to those coaches.

Coach Rob Murphy: You helped me, too, man, get out of the streets of Detroit. I will never forget what you've done for me. You helped me live. You gave me money when you weren't supposed to. You gave me a lot of money, Coach Rob Murphy, but you protected me. Coach Murphy, you protected me from the predators. You looked out for me. So thank you, Coach Ron Murphy.

Tell you a little story about me. Y'all seen the video, but some may know; some might not know. But when I was a senior at Kent State, I didn't play a down of college football, and Coach Rob Murphy and I was trying to find ways to get me to the next level. At the time, we didn't know what we were going to do, and Coach Jim and Senderoff tried to find ways to write teams to try to get me NFL tryouts out of nowhere. They introduced me to a guy named Tim Brewster. And Tim Brewster, at the time, was the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers.

You see, Tim Brewster saw something special in me. He was pretty sure that I could make the team. He was adamant that I'd be All-Pro in three years. You see, the thing is, when switching sports or careers, for that matter, it can be life-changing. The unexpected are often the most powerful ones, because it can completely redirect your life if you're ready to take advantage and you're ready for the opportunity. Thank you, Coach Tim Brewster and Coach Marty Schottenheimer. They gave me an opportunity.

They gave me an opportunity to play tight end in the NFL, and because of you, Coach Tim Brewster, NFL teams, NFL scouts, will never look at college basketball players the same again. So thank you, Coach Tim Brewster.

I also want to take this time to thank the legends, the tight ends, who paved the way. Tight ends like Mike Ditka, Charlie Sanders, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow Sr., Ozzie Newsome. Thank you, legends, for pushing the position and giving me a lane that I was fortunate enough to walk. So thank you to those legends.

To Mr. Dean Spanos and the Spanos family and the whole, entire Chargers organization: I want to say thank you for allowing me to represent the franchise for so many years and believing in me. You've treated me like family, Mr. Spanos and the Spanos family, and trust me when I tell you as players, that's what matters the most. I will never forget. I am forever grateful, and I will continue to represent the Chargers and the Bolts with honor and integrity. So thank you to Mr. Spanos and the Chargers organization. 

I also want to thank some incredible people from the Chargers' organization that's behind the scenes that's had an impact on my journey as well. People like Dr. Harry Martin, Hightower, Jen Rojas, Jamal, the Fonts, Dr. Child Collins. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support over my years, and I can't say enough about what you did to help my career. So thank you to those Chargers and the organization. So I appreciate you.

To all my Chargers head coach: Coach Anthony Lynn; Coach Mike McCoy; Coach late, great Marty Schottenheimer, thank you as well. Coach Norv Turner, you're an offensive genius. Coach North Turner, you've helped me in so many ways. I hope to see you in the Hall of Fame one day, Coach Norv Turner, and thank you for everything you've done for me, Coach Norv Turner. I really appreciate you.

To all my position coaches, some of the best position coaches this tight end has ever seen. Coaches like Coach Tim Brewster, Coach Chud, Jason Michaels, Coach Clancy Barona. Your commitment to me did not go unnoticed. You all pushed me to be the man and player I was meant to be. You came in my life at the right time. I guess that's what it means to be chosen. You helped shape my legacy, coaches, in so many ways, and I am so forever grateful. So thank you, coaches, for your support.

To my Charger teammates, the guys I went to battle with every Sunday: We pushed each other. We challenged each other. We picked each other up through it all. Guys like Malcolm Floyd, Mooch, Steven Cooper, Brandon Manumaleuna, Courtney van Brewer, Dillman, Marcus McNeil, Matt Wilhelm, Bogle. We built the culture based on toughness and trust. You wasn't just good players, you are great people.

Thank you all for holding me accountable. We've created a bond that will last a lifetime. So thank you to my teammates.

To my quarterbacks: Doug Flutie, thank you because you threw me my very first touchdown; Drew Brees, thank you because you helped kick-start my career; and Philip Rivers, I feel what we had on that football field was special. You wasn't just a guy throwing the ball. You were the heartbeat on offense. Your fire, your passion, your IQ, was unmatched. You 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, Phil, and I always knew it was coming with a purpose.

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

Now, of course, I got to show love to one of the greatest that ever did it, one of the greatest football players to ever play. LT, sharing that field with you, man, was like watching poetry in motion. You set the standard, LT, not just by how you played, but how you prepared. I learned by just watching, and every Sunday I felt lucky to be on the same side as number 21. Thank you, LT, not just because you're a Hall of Fame player, because you're a Hall of Fame teammate, and I appreciate you, homeboy. So thank you.

To the City of Los Angeles: Thank you for welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to write my final chapter of my career. Your generosity, your kindness, was really appreciated. So thank you to the City of Los Angeles. I appreciate you.

To the City of San Diego: You embraced me. You supported me. San Diego is where I first became a Charger, where I first became a tight end, when I first became a father. I would never forget running out of Qualcomm Stadium and seeing all that powder blue. The love I felt, the energy I felt, the belief. San Diego, you would always have my heart, no matter where I live in the world, San Diego will always be home. So thank you to the City of San Diego. 

You see, football is the ultimate team game, and I didn't get here alone. I'm standing here today because of people who've poured into me. And what I've learned through it all, a kid from Detroit to San Diego, living in Los Angeles right now, had it not been for sports, I probably would never cross paths with you here, and that's why sports is such a great reminder to us as humans that we're not as divided as people may think. We're more than just Black or white, rich or poor. That's why it's important for us to keep pushing unity -- to make this country a better place.

To my coaches, my teammates, my friends and family: I carry each of you with me into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thank you all, and God bless you.