Antonio Gates

Antonio Gates took one of the more unusual paths to the National Football League.

The San Diego Chargers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2003 with modest expectations, considering Gates did not play a down of college football. Instead, he was a standout on the Kent State University basketball team — a power forward who helped the school to its first conference championship as a junior. As a senior, Gates led Kent State to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament and earned honorable mention All-American status, averaging 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

When pro basketball options appeared limited and with a love for football unfulfilled, Gates worked out for several NFL teams. The Chargers were rewarded for the chance they took by developing a player who became their all-time leader in catches (955), yards (11,841) and touchdowns (116) over a 16-season career that spanned 236 games.

Gates broke onto the scene in his second pro season, recording 81 receptions for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns, tied for the third most in a single season in franchise history. He earned the first of eight Pro Bowl nods and led the team in receiving, something he would accomplish a total of eight times (2004-09, 2011, 2013). The following season, Gates built on the prior year’s success, catching 89 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 scores.

For his career, Gates topped 60 receptions in nine seasons, surpassing 700 yards receiving in each of those years. He played on six teams that qualified for the playoffs, with the Chargers claiming the best record in the AFC West Division each season.

His career numbers read 955 receptions for 11,841 yards, both third most among tight ends at the time of his retirement, and 116 touchdowns, the most all time for the position. Gates played in 236 regular-season games and 12 playoff games, in which he recorded 51 catches for 540 yards, finding the end zone twice.

A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s (second unit, behind future Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ), Gates earned first-team All-Pro honors three times (2004-06) and second-team honors twice (2009-2010).