Player
Antonio Gates
TE (retired)
Antonio Gates: facts drawn from the play-by-play.
16-year career, all in San Diego/LA Chargers. 116 career receiving TDs — most by a TE in NFL history.
MilestoneCareer regular-season totals
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Games | 236 |
| Receptions | 955 |
| Receiving Yards | 11,841 |
| Receiving TDs | 116 |
| Y/R | 12.40 |
5 straight 70+ catch seasons (2004-08). Made the Pro Bowl in his 2nd year (2004) — among the fastest TE rises ever.
TrendGates peak years
| Year | Rec | Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 81 | 964 | 13 |
| 2005 | 89 | 1,101 | 10 |
| 2006 | 71 | 924 | 9 |
| 2007 | 75 | 984 | 9 |
| 2009 | 79 | 1,157 | 8 |
| 2014 | 69 | 821 | 12 |
Receiving yards by year
| Season | Yards |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 964 |
| 2005 | 1101 |
| 2007 | 984 |
| 2009 | 1157 |
| 2014 | 821 |
He never played college football — entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Kent State (basketball).
RareGates pre-NFL
| School | Sport |
|---|---|
| Kent State (2001-02) | Basketball |
| NFL UDFA | 2003 |
| Position | TE (rookie) |
His Philip Rivers connection: 89 of his 116 TDs came from Rivers — among the highest QB-TE TD totals ever.
ComparisonRivers-Gates connection
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Years together | 2006-2018 |
| TD passes from Rivers | 89 |
| Total Rivers-LAC TDs | ~330 (passing) |
| % to Gates | ~27% |
He's the only player in NFL history to play 16 seasons all with the same franchise — without ever winning a SB.
SplitGates LAC tenure
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Years | 16 |
| Teams | 1 (LAC) |
| Playoff trips | 7 |
| Playoff wins | 4 |
| SB appearances | 0 |
He scored TDs at age 38 (his final year, 2018) — among the oldest TEs to score multiple TDs in an NFL season.
AnomalyGates age-defying career
| Age | Year | TDs |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 2014 | 12 |
| 36 | 2016 | 7 |
| 38 | 2018 | 2 (final year) |
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