Longtime Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was announced at the NFL Honors show as one of four members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025. He’ll join Jared Allen, Eric Allen, and Sterling Sharpe, making this the smallest class inducted in 20 years, according to The Athletic.
Gates is considered one of the greatest Chargers of all time, having spent his entire 16-year career with the team. That made it only fitting that he received a proper, heartfelt notification of his enshrinement into the NFL’s highest honor.
In a video posted by the Chargers’ social media page, Gates is seen walking into a room where former longtime teammate LaDainian Tomlinson was waiting to deliver the good news.
“It’s my honor to welcome you to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2025,” Tomlinson told Gates.
The two then embraced, exchanging words of love and admiration. But what made the moment even more emotional was Gates revealing that he had just lost his father a week prior.
“I just buried my dad a week ago Saturday,” Gates said. “And he would always talk about being a competitor, being tough and, uh… it’s tough, man.”
Gates and Tomlinson were Chargers teammates from 2003 to 2009. Tomlinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
LT was the one to tell Gates he was in 🥹 pic.twitter.com/GWECQl6WXF
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) February 7, 2025
Gates holds the record for the most touchdown catches by a tight end in NFL history with 116. He’s also the Chargers’ franchise leader in career receptions (955), receiving yards (11,841), and touchdown catches. A three-time First-Team All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, Gates’ legacy as one of the best tight ends in history is unquestioned.
It has become a common theme to showcase upcoming Hall of Fame inductees receiving the news of their enshrinement, but Gates’ moment may be one of the most memorable yet.
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