Former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is officially a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, going in as part of the class of 2025 that also included Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe.
Gates gave a classy, eloquent speech to the crowd in Canton, describing his unlikely road to the NFL, which ended with him becoming the all-time leader in Chargers history in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. On top of that, his 116 touchdown catches are the most by a tight end in NFL history.
Gates took the unconventional route to the NFL, coming from Kent State, where he was a basketball player. He made an impression in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, leading the Golden Flashes to the Elite 8. When NBA scouts felt there wouldn't be a spot for him in the NFL, NFL scouts felt he was athletic enough to get on a roster.
"NFL teams will never look at college basketball players the same again. Thank you, Tim Brewster."
— NFL (@NFL) August 2, 2025
Antonio Gates shouts out his first NFL TE coach with the Chargers who helped him develop into a Hall of Famer 💛
HOF Enshrinement on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/kmgOKB4p13
Gates worked out for the Chargers and despite having several other workouts lined up, Gates was immediately signed by the Chargers when they realized what he might be able to do. The rest is history.
In 2003, Antonio Gates was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by Dean Spanos and the Chargers. Today, Dean is in Canton to present him as Hall of Famer No. 381. pic.twitter.com/V9W17Brjo3
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) August 2, 2025
This class had a lot of firsts. Jared Allen became the first player from Idaho State to make the Hall of Fame. Sterling and Shannon Sharpe became the first brothers to make it to Canton. But Gates may have the best first of anyone in Canton.
READ:Why Philip Rivers may have to wait to get into the Hall of Fame
There have been some undrafted free agents who have gotten into the Hall of Fame. That is a tremendous feat in and of itself. Gates not only did that, but he became the first player to ever get into the Hall of Fame without playing a single down of football in college.
There is a strong chance that it will never happen again.
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Category: Football
