From hoops to Hall of Fame: Antonio Gates' unique NFL journey to Canton
From Hardwood to Hall of Fame: Antonio Gates' Unconventional Path to Canton
Basketball Prodigy Finds Glory on the Gridiron
Antonio Gates, one of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history, will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday. What makes his journey even more remarkable is that he wasn't a football standout coming out of high school. In fact, Gates originally envisioned himself playing in the NBA.
"My journey was probably the most unique journey in all of football because I came in as a former basketball player, not knowing what to expect,” Gates said. “Some of those guys who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, they wanted to be Pro Football Hall of Famers when they were 14 years old. I wanted to play in the NBA. That was my dream. Like I said, I still haven’t wrapped my head around it all."
Gates's high school career saw him excel in both football and basketball at Detroit Central. While Nick Saban recruited him to play football at Michigan State, Gates also pursued his passion for basketball. Their differing visions led Gates to transfer to Eastern Michigan, then to two junior colleges before finally landing at Kent State.
It was at Kent State where Gates truly shone on the court. He led the Golden Flashes to the Elite Eight in the 2002 NCAA Tournament and earned an Associated Press All-America honorable mention selection as a senior after averaging 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Despite his impressive performance, Gates was considered undersized for the NBA. This is where Tim Brewster, then the Chargers' tight ends coach, saw potential beyond the hardwood. He convinced Marty Schottenheimer and the Chargers' front office to sign Gates as a free agent.
“A lot of people like to take credit, but Tim is the number one reason why I am in the Hall of Fame,” Gates said. “He found me, believed what I could become, and was around me constantly. He really got me into a position where I look up, and I was All-Pro my second year in the field.”
Gates's transition to football was swift and impressive. After having 24 receptions for 389 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, he exploded with a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2004. This marked the first of three consecutive Associated Press All-Pro honors and eight consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl.
Gates' unique route-running style was initially met with skepticism from coaches but eventually became commonplace in the NFL, influencing players like Travis Kelce and George Kittle. His basketball background proved invaluable as his ability to catch the ball at its highest point mirrored rebounding, while boxing out on the court translated to getting open against defensive backs.
His time under Chargers coach Norv Turner (2007-’12) saw Gates's route-running evolve further and flourish alongside quarterback Philip Rivers. "He had to win on his route-running and his ability to separate and his understanding of coverages and all those things. Philip is as good a passer as there’s been in a long time, but Philip wasn’t going to move around and make a lot of plays off schedule,” Turner said.
Gates's legacy is cemented with 955 receptions for 11,841 yards, 21 multi-touchdown games (the most among tight ends), and a remarkable 39 third-down touchdowns (tied for third all time). Eight seasons with at least eight touchdowns and a spot on the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s further solidify his place as a legend.
The Hall of Fame induction, however, holds special meaning for Gates. "I’ve always been in a space where from a popularity standpoint, people know my name. It’s my chance to thank everyone else,” he said. “Although you are the face and the focus point, it’s truly not about you. You’re letting everybody understand what it took to get to this point and who were influential.”