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Antonio Gates is a former professional American football tight end from the USA who played for the Los Angeles Chargers (previously known as San Diego Chargers) of the National Football League (NFL).
He did spend his entire career at the Chargers. Antonio was a five-time All-Pro selection and was named to the Pro Bowl eight times.
| Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Antonio Ethan Gates Sr |
| Date Of Birth | June 18, 1980 |
| Age | 41 years old |
| Birth Place | Detroit, Michigan |
| Parent(s) | Henry and Vanelia Gates |
| Occupation | American Football Player |
| Position | Tight End |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Height | 6 feet 4 inches |
| Weight | N/A |
| Wife(s) | Sasha Dindayal |
| No. of Children | Three |
| Children | Aven, Ayla, and Antonio Gates Jr |
| Social Media | |
| TV shows | The Real Dirty Dancing |
| Net Worth | $25 million |
Antonio Gates Early Life
On June 18, 1980, he was born to Henry and Vanelia Gates in Detroit, Michigan. He is ruled by Gemini and is now 41 years old. His full name is Antonio Ethan Gates Sr.
Antonio is 6 feet 4 inches in height and weighs 115 kg regarding his physique. He attended and played high school football at Central High School.
Antonio Gates Career
According to Wikipedia, Antonio used to play basketball back then. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chargers in 2003 after playing collegiate basketball for Kent State University.
After brief trips at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University, Antonio Gates spent his junior and senior college years at Kent State.
His ascension from third-string to starter was overshadowed by San Diego’s league-worst 4–12 record.
Nevertheless, he caught his first pass against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4, scored his first touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10, and had his first 100-yard receiving game in Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers.
In a 21–0 win over the Cleveland Browns on December 19, 2004, he tied the NFL single-season record for touchdown receptions by a tight end (12). Antonio Gates broke this record in an overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on December 26.
After holding out for a contract extension, he signed a six-year agreement with the San Diego Chargers worth up to $24 million on August 23, 2005.
Antonio Gates was suspended for one game due to his strike, the home opener against the Dallas Cowboys, which the team lost.
He had another outstanding season, catching 89 catches for 1,101 yards and eleven touchdowns, but the Chargers missed the playoffs by a single game.
For the third year in a row, he was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams during the 2006 season. However, he was not selected to the All-Pro team but the Pro Bowl in 2007. Antonio Gates caught 75 passes for 984 yards and nine touchdowns during the season.
In 2008, he underwent left toe surgery and, along with teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, was forced to withdraw from his 5th Pro Bowl appearance due to his injuries. He had 60 receptions for 704 yards and eight touchdowns towards the end.
He had the best year of his career in 2009 following a couple of damaged seasons due to injuries. He had a career-high 1,157 yards receiving and eight touchdowns on 79 receptions.
He had at least five receptions in 10 of the team’s first 11 games. With 13 victories, the squad had one of the year’s finest records. On the other hand, the New York Jets got off to a good start in their first playoff game.
Antonio Gates signed a five-year, $36 million contract with a $20 million guarantee to begin the 2010 season. He has 40 receptions and nine touchdowns in the first nine games of the 2010 season.
In addition, he was named to his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl despite being hindered by foot issues for the second half of the 2010 season. On the other hand, Antonio could not play due to persisting injuries.
Antonio Gates attempted to play through his persistent foot ailments during the 2011 season but was forced to sit out Weeks 3–5.
However, he returned after the bye week and began every game the rest of the way, ending with more than 60 catches (64) for the seventh time in his career.
In 2012, Antonio Gates set yet another milestone, becoming the fifth tight end in NFL history with 600 career catches and finishing second in Chargers franchise history with 83 touchdowns.
For the first time since 2009, he started all 16 games and finished with 70 receptions (77) for the fourth time in his career in 2013. On the other hand, a tight end scored only four touchdowns, his lowest since his rookie season in 2003.
He became the fourth tight end in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards in the 2014 season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs.
On July 2, 2015, it was revealed that Antonio would miss the first four games of the 2015 season due to a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy (PEDs).
However, in his first game back after a four-game suspension, he got his 100th and 101st career touchdown receptions on October 12. On 56 receptions, he would end the season with 630 yards and five touchdowns.
A tight end signed a two-year contract extension with the Chargers on March 9, 2016. After signing a new deal, he participated in 14 games in 2016, starting nine.
He had 53 receptions for 538 yards and seven touchdowns. His 10.3 yards per reception and 57% completion rate were career lows.
Antonio Gates scored his 112th career touchdown pass against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, setting a new NFL record for most touchdowns by a tight end.
He only played four games after the second-year tight end. Hunter Henry was named the starter, and he finished with 30 receptions for 316 yards and three touchdowns, a career-low.
The Chargers told Antonio Gates on April 27, 2018, that he would not be returning for the 2018 season. However, Antonio re-signed with the Chargers after Hunter’s injury on September 2. He got his first receiving touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4.
On January 14, 2020, he announced his retirement. Antonio Gates set a record for tight end touchdown catches with 116, including 89 thrown by Rivers, the most ever by a quarterback–tight end duo.
In addition, Antonio Gates confirmed that he would join the Chargers front office as a Legends Ambassador in the same year.
Antonio Gates Personal Life
His wife is Sasha Dindayal, and the married couple has three children: Aven, Ayla, and Antonio Gates Jr. As per his Instagram photos, he appears to spend most of his leisure time as a devoted parent with his kids. Nevertheless, after his retirement, he is busy with the family.
What Is Antonio Gates Net Worth?
There is presently no detail on his precise income. However, he may be well compensated for his work as a former American football player and current Legends Ambassador.
At the same time, his estimated net worth is around $25 million per our research.
Meet Antonio Gates On Instagram
Gates has a handle @theantoniogates85 with 32 posts, 50.5k followers, and 137 followings on Instagram. Antonio seems to be enjoying life after retirement. Gates seems to share posts about his personal and professional life events. Follow him to discover his daily activities and see the updates on his life.
For full biography about your favorite American Football Player, please check out Sportscovering.
