Antonio Gates
Antonio Ethan Gates Jr. (born June 18, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers during his entire career in the National Football League (NFL). He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and was a six-time All-Pro selection. He retired on January 14, 2020, after 16 years with the Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers
Legends ambassador
June 18, 1980
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
Central
(Detroit, Michigan)
Kent State (2001–2003)
955
955
11,841
116
Gates was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003 after playing college basketball for the Kent State Golden Flashes. He attended college at Kent State University in his junior and senior years after brief stints at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University.[1] He is the Chargers' career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.[2] In 2015, he became the second tight end and ninth player overall to record 100 career touchdown receptions.[3] He ranks seventh in career touchdown receptions, with 116, and leads all tight ends in NFL history. Gates is considered one of the best tight ends and undrafted free agents in NFL history.[4][5][6][7]
Early life[edit]
Gates was born in Detroit,[8] where he played high school football at Central High School.[9]
College career[edit]
Gates played basketball rather than football in college.[10][8] He originally enrolled at Michigan State University wanting to play football under then-coach Nick Saban as well as basketball under coach Tom Izzo. Upon enrolling, he learned that Saban wanted him to play only football.[11] Gates then chose to pursue playing basketball by transferring to Eastern Michigan University. He played there part of a season before transferring to the College of the Sequoias, a junior college in California, to focus on academics. Recruited by Stan Heath, Gates transferred to Kent State University in northeastern Ohio.[12]
As a member of the Golden Flashes, Gates played two seasons as power forward. In his junior season he averaged 16.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.[13] His junior season his team won its first regular season Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship in school history after finishing the regular season with a 24–5 overall record with a 17–1 record in the MAC.[14][15] Gates helped the Golden Flashes win their second consecutive MAC tournament and earn its resulting berth in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. In the tournament, he gave crucial performances that helped Kent State reach the Elite Eight as a 10 seed by upsetting 7 seed Oklahoma State (69–61), 2 seed Alabama (71–58) and 3 seed Pittsburgh (78–73).[16]
During his senior season, he received honorable mention All-American honors from the Associated Press after averaging 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He finished with a record of 54–16 in two years of playing.[17]
His jersey number, 44, was retired on February 27, 2010, making him just the fourth Golden Flash to receive the honor.[18]
Personal life[edit]
Gates married his longtime girlfriend, model Sasha Dindayal, on July 9, 2011.[118] As of 2014, the couple resided in Encino, California.[119]
Gates appeared in the fourth episode of season one and the final episode of season six of The League.[120][121]
Gates has a son, Antonio Gates Jr., who is (as of 2022) a freshman wide receiver for the Michigan State Spartans.[122]
Gates appeared on a season 27 episode of The Bachelor (American TV series).[123]