#85 Antonio Gates | TE

About the only thing that could slow down Antonio Gates in 2007 was a big toe. Gates was his typical self during the regular season, leading the team with 75 catches, 984 yards and nine touchdowns. Then in the Chargers’ playoff opener against the Tennessee Titans, Gates fell awkwardly while being tackled after a catch. He left the game and did not return. Doctors were able to alleviate the discomfort so that he could play in the Divisional Playoffs and the AFC Championship Game, but Gates truly wasn’t himself and had to undergo surgery following the season. He’s been ardent in his rehab and is expected to return in 2008. TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with Chargers as undrafted rookie, May 2, 2003…signed six-year contract with Chargers Aug. 22, 2005.

2007: Selected to start for AFC Pro Bowl squad…led NFL tight ends and ranked fifth overall in NFL with 27 third-down catches…ranked second among NFL tight ends in TD catches (nine) and fourth in receptions (75) and yards (984)…scored Chargers’ first touchdown of season on 17-yard halfback-option pass from LaDainian Tomlinson in 14-3 Opening Day win over Chicago…set game-highs with nine catches and 107 yards receiving, averaging 11.9 yards per catch…caught 12-yard TD pass from Philip Rivers early in the fourth quarter against New England Sept. 16…during earlier third-quarter TD drive against Patriots, Gates had three big third-down catches, making plays of 13 yards on 3rd-and-6; 22 yards on 3rd-and-9, and 8 yards on 3rd-and-4…caught game-high 11 passes and led team with 113 yards receiving Week 3 at Green Bay…eight-yard catch on 3rd-and-6 play help set up team’s first TD of game…earned Game Ball from Head Coach Norv Turner after leading Bolts with seven catches, 113 yards and touchdown Oct. 7 against Broncos…scored touchdown in third quarter on nine-yard pass from Philip Rivers that gave San Diego a 27-3 lead…also had several key third-down catches during game, including 13 yarder on third-and-eight play during second-quarter field goal drive and another 13 yarder on third-and-eight during third quarter touchdown drive…two plays after his second 13-yard catch, Gates stretched field for big 34-yard pickup on second-and-10 play to eclipse 100 yards for day and keep TD drive moving along…led Chargers with 58 yards receiving Week 6 vs. Oakland, including game-long 28-yard catch on first offensive play of third quarter that helped kick-start TD drive…caught two touchdown passes against Houston Oct. 28 covering 49 and 31 yards…first TD catch (49 yards) was third-longest catch of career and second TD catch put him over 4,000 receiving yards for his career…Texans’ game was 68th of career, making him third-fastest tight end in NFL history to reach that mark, bettered only by former Charger Kellen Winslow (58 games) and former Chicago Bear Mike Ditka (67)…finished game as team leader with three catches for 92 yards and two scores…other catch was 12-yarder on third-and-nine play during second-quarter touchdown drive…in addition to passing 4,000 yards, Gates also moved past Ronnie Harmon (3,939 yards ) and into eighth place on Chargers’ all-time receiving yardage list, and with two TD catches, 38th and 39th of his career, he broke tie with Antony Miller and moved into sole possession of sixth-place on team’s career touchdown catches list…seven-yard catch on third-and-seven play led to touchdown two plays later and 23-0 lead for Bolts in Nov. 11 NBC Sunday Night Football contest against Indianapolis…tallied 105 yards receiving against Baltimore Nov. 25…was fourth 100-yard game of season, tying career high…went over 100-yard mark during third-quarter 25-yard TD catch on third-and-eight play…was second TD catch of game, tying season high…had 35-yard scoring catch in second quarter…two TD catches against Ravens (41st and 42nd of his career) moved him past Wes Chandler and into fifth place on team’s career touchdown receptions list…also increased career yardage total to 4,212 to move past Tony Martin and into seventh place on team’s all-time list…caught game-tying touchdown pass (two yards) with nine seconds left in fourth quarter of OT win at Tennessee Dec. 9…was one of team-leading six catches in game…made another big catch in overtime, securing 11-yard catch on third-and-four play during game-winning TD drive…lone catch against Denver on ESPN Monday Night Football Dec. 24 was spectacular 24-yard one-handed catch on third-and-10 play during third quarter touchdown drive…led team with six catches for 62 yards Dec. 30 at Oakland…left AFC Wild Card Playoff Game vs. Tennessee with toe injury…played in AFC Divisional Playoff game at Indianapolis with injured toe and helped set up Bolts’ first touchdown of game with 23-yard catch…did not play in Pro Bowl due to toe injury.

2006: Selected to 2007 AFC Pro Bowl squad…first-team All-Pro by Associated Press, Sporting News, USA Today Sports Weekly, Pro Football Weekly and Professional Football Writers of America, Sports Illustrated.com and ESPN.com…named to PFW’s and PFWA’s All-AFC Team…named to NFL.com’s All-Interview Team…caught four-yard touchdown pass to give Bolts 20-0 lead in Sept. 11 season opener at Oakland…had game-long 28-yard catch during third-quarter field goal drive Week 2 against Tennessee…22-yard touchdown catch in third quarter helped Bolts overcome deficit and take 17-13 lead against Pittsburgh in Sunday Night Football game Oct. 8…earlier in game, he helped set up touchdown that trimmed 10-0 deficit with another 22-yard catch on third-and-11 play during drive that ended with Malcom Floyd touchdown catch…scored Bolts first touchdown of game in San Francisco Oct. 15 on 57-yard catch-and-run in first quarter…was second-longest score of career…caught touchdown pass for third game in row Oct. 22 against Chiefs…it was his eighth-career touchdown catch against Kansas City, most he’s scored against any single opponent during his NFL career…led Chargers with nine catches in game, including game-long 21-yard catch on third-and-20 play during second-quarter field goal drive…led team with five catches and 66 yards Oct. 29 vs. St. Louis…set tone early against Rams with 27 and 16-yard catches on second-and-eight plays during team’s first two scoring drives as Bolts jumped out to 14-0 lead…Chargers scored and took 7-0 lead on next play after Gates’ 27-yard catch on opening drive…came up with huge 27-yard catch on third-and-eight play late in fourth quarter at Cincinnati Nov. 12…three plays after catch, Chargers scored touchdown for final points in 49-41 win…helped Chargers pull out 35-27 come-from-behind win at Denver Nov. 19 with big fourth-quarter effort…responsible for 32 of team’s 55 yards on drive in which Bolts reclaimed lead at 28-27, including key 10-yard catch to Broncos’ seven on third-and-three play…led team with six catches for 81 yards, including 19-yard touchdown pass from LaDainian Tomlinson, in 21-14 win over Oakland Nov. 26…caught his team-leading sixth touchdown pass of season Dec. 3 at Buffalo…11-yard pass from Rivers with 24 seconds left in first half gave Chargers 17-0 lead…helped own cause on drive with 26-yard catch on third-and-four two plays before touchdown…second TD in as many weeks after going four games without one…led team with seven grabs for 90 yards in Buffalo…included among catches was 19-yarder on third-and-four play during 8:06 fourth-quarter drive in which Bolts claimed 24-14 lead and essentially seal victory…Chargers Alumni Player of Week after catching two touchdown passes Dec. 10 against Denver…scored on 12 yarder in first quarter and seven-yarder on third-and-five play at end of second quarter…was first multi-touchdown game of season and first since Oct. 30, 2005 at Kansas City…were first-career TDs against Denver…finished game with 104 yards on seven catches for first 100-yard game of season…was also first-career 100-yard game against Broncos…went over 100-yard mark on 19-yard catch on third-and-seven play during fourth quarter field goal drive that gave Chargers 34-20 lead…two big catches in rain during second half of Seattle game Dec. 24…25-yard catch on first play of third quarter helped set up field goal for 10-0 lead…38-yard catch on third-and-10 play later in quarter kept alive field goal drive to give Bolts 13-7 edge…caught team-leading ninth touchdown pass of season on 33-yard play in the Bolts’ Dec. 31 season finale against Arizona…touchdown gave Chargers first lead of game in second quarter (10-7)…was 14th catch of season covering 20+ yards, most in NFL by tight end…led team with six catches for 61 yards in Jan. 14 AFC Playoff game vs. New England…had 19-yard catch on second-and-nine play and 12-yard catch on third-and-seven play during fourth-quarter touchdown drive in which Bolts took 21-13 lead.

2005: AFC Pro Bowl starter…first-team All-Pro by Associated Press, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, SportsIllustrated.com, ESPN.com, Pro Football Weekly, Professional Football Writers of America and USA Today Sports Weekly…Chargers Co-Offensive Player of Year…Midseason All-Pro selection by Pro Football Weekly…did not play in season opener against Dallas due to roster exemption…led team with six catches for 80 yards at Denver Sept. 18…caught 12-yard pass on third-and-five and 13-yard pass on third-and-four during second-quarter touchdown drive…also had 13- and 24-yard catches during fourth quarter game-tying drive…caught 14-yard touchdown pass in third quarter to give Bolts 35-20 lead over New York Giants in ESPN Sunday Night Football game Sept. 25…during drive, caught 23-yard pass on third-and-six play to keep drive alive…ended night with team-leading six catches and 92 yards against Giants…had 19-yard catch on first offensive play of game…during second-quarter drive when Chargers took 21-3 lead, caught 15-yard pass on first play of drive and later caught 12-yarder on third-and-five play to sustain drive…led team with six catches for 108 yards in 41-17 win at New England on Oct. 2 that ended Patriots’ NFL-record 21-game home winning streak…three of six catches against Patriots were on third-down plays and all three resulted in first downs to sustain scoring drives…11-yard touchdown catch in second quarter against Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football Oct. 10 helped Chargers begin to erase 14-0 deficit…eight-yard touchdown catch at Philadelphia Oct. 23 gave Bolts 14-10 lead in fourth quarter…during drive caught three passes for 28 yards, including eight-yard catch on third-and-four play to keep drive alive…led team with eight catches against Eagles…Chargers Alumni Player of Week after setting career highs with 10 catches and 145 yards against Kansas City Oct. 30…tied his career high with three touchdown catches…Bolts improved to 5-0 in games when Gates has more than one touchdown catch…scoring catches covered 19 and 20 yards in first half and 35 yards in fourth quarter…set new career high for receiving yards on final touchdown catch…led team with eight catches and 132 yards receiving at New York Jets Nov. 6…17-yard catch on opening offensive drive of game led to touchdown and 7-0 lead one play later…took 29-yard pass to three-yard line to set up second-quarter touchdown which gave Bolts 21-7 lead over Jets…caught eight-yard pass to go over 100 yards for game during third quarter touchdown drive…named to Pro Football Weekly’s Midseason All-Pro Team…27-yard touchdown catch gave Chargers 14-3 lead over Buffalo Nov. 20…injured foot on first offensive series of second half while making 21-yard catch on third-and-eight play…did not return to game but came back for following game at Washington…caught 24-yard pass on first play of overtime against Redskins to set up LaDainian Tomlinson’s game-winning 41-yard touchdown run on following play…in Dec. 4 ESPN Sunday Night Football game against Oakland, caught six-yard touchdown pass to give Bolts 10-3 lead in second quarter…pass was originally ruled incomplete but overturned on replay challenge…two plays before touchdown, caught 17-yard pass on third-and-13 play to keep drive alive…three of four catches against Raiders resulted in first downs…racked up 123 receiving yards against Miami Dec. 11 to raise season total to new career-high of 997...set career high with 13 catches against Dolphins and caught eight-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left in fourth quarter…caught eight-yard pass on fourth-and-four play two snaps before touchdown catch…led squad with six catches at Indianapolis Dec. 18…helped sustain second-quarter field-goal drive at Indianapolis Dec. 18 by drawing defensive holding penalty on third-and-six play and then catching five- and 10-yard passes on successive third-and-two plays…field goal gave Bolts 13-0 first-half lead…drew another illegal contact penalty during third-quarter field-goal drive for 16-0 edge…caught 18-yard touchdown pass on third-and-five play in first quarter at Kansas City Dec. 24…started 10-play touchdown drive with 22-yard catch on first play.

2004: AFC Pro Bowl starter…first-team All-Pro by Associated Press, Football Digest, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and SportsIllustrated.com…second-team All-Pro by College & Pro Football News¬weekly…All-NFL, All-AFC and All-Pro second-team by Pro Football Weekly and Professional Football Writers of ¬America…NFL Alumni Association Tight End of Year…Chargers Offensive Player of Year…led team with 81 catches, 964 yards and 13 touchdowns…set NFL single-season record for touchdown catches by tight end…tied for second-most single-season touchdown catches in team history…finished year fourth in NFL in touchdown catches…ranked second in NFL with 30 third-down catches, fifth with 358 third-down receiving yards and third with six third-down touchdown catches…set career highs with eight catches and 123 yards in season opener at Houston…caught four passes on third-down plays that resulted in first downs and seven of his eight total catches went for first downs…caught 11-yard touchdown pass on third-and-10 play in second quarter against Tennessee Oct. 3…was first touchdown catch of season…led team with seven catches against Titans…had three catches for 25 yards during Chargers other second quarter touchdown drive versus Tennessee, including 12-yard catch on third-and-seven play…career-high two touchdown catches against Jacksonville Oct. 10…caught one- and 11-yard scoring passes on third-down plays in first half…26-yard third-down catch on opening series of game against Jaguars helped set up first touchdown and 29-yard catch on third-down in third quarter helped set up Nate Kaeding field goal…tied career high with eight catches versus Jacksonville…led team with 80 yards receiving and tied for team high with six catches at Atlanta Oct. 17…four of his six catches resulted in first downs…caught three passes for 67 yards on fourth-quarter touchdown drive that ended with Kaeding field goal…led team with seven catches for 61 yards in 17-6 win at Carolina Oct. 24…five of seven catches against Panthers, including four on third-down, resulted in first downs…critical third-down catches on both of team’s third-quarter scoring drives enabled Chargers to turn 6-0 deficit into 10-6 lead…notched five- and one-yard touchdown catches in third quarter against Oakland Oct. 31…all five catches against Raiders resulted in first downs…season-long 29-yard catch on first play of third quarter ignited drive that ended with his five-yard touchdown catch…16-yard catch on first offensive play of game started drive that ended with 17-yard touchdown catch by Justin Peelle…Chargers Alumni Player of Week after pulling down career-high three touchdown catches against New Orleans Nov. 7…scores covered 12, seven and two yards…first Chargers receiver to have three touchdown catches in game since Tony Martin had three against Baltimore Sept. 28, 1997…first three-touchdown game by Chargers tight end since Kellen Winslow against Kansas City Dec. 11, 1983…raised season touchdown total to eight, most by tight end on team since Winslow had eight in 1983…led team with eight catches for 101 yards and touchdown at Oakland Nov. 21…scored touchdown on 11-yard catch to cap game’s opening drive on third-and-six play…also had 23-yard catch on third-and-two early in drive to keep chains moving…caught 12-yard pass from Brees on third-and-five play in fourth quarter that resulted in six-yard touchdown run by LaDainian Tomlinson three plays later for deciding points in 23-17 win…led team with 92 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches at Kansas City Nov. 28…touchdown catches were 10th and 11th of season to set new team record for tight ends, surpassing mark of 10 set by Winslow and Willie Frazier…touchdown catches against Chiefs raised total to eight in last four games, tied with Wes Chandler for most in team history in four-game stretch…both scoring catches came in fourth quarter and covered 18 and 11 yards…held to three catches and 31 yards against Broncos Dec. 5, but two of three catches were on third-down plays that resulted in first downs, including 10-yard catch on third-and-five during second-quarter touchdown drive to give Chargers 14-7 lead…snapped two-game scoreless streak with career-long 72-yard touchdown catch at Cleveland Dec. 19…12th touchdown catch of season tying NFL record for tight ends shared by Wesley Walls, Todd Christensen, Jerry Smith and Mike Ditka…touchdown was lone catch versus Browns…caught four-yard touchdown pass at Indianapolis Dec. 26 for 13th touchdown of season to set new NFL record for tight ends…also caught 20-yard pass on third-and-18 on fourth play of touchdown drive…three of seven catches against Colts were third downs that resulted in first downs, including touchdown catch…did not play against Kansas City Jan. 2…caught game-tying one-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in fourth quarter to force overtime in Wild Card Playoff game against New York Jets…caught 21- and 44-yard passes during drive to help set up touchdown…started and caught three passes for 51 yards for AFC in 38-27 win over NFC in Pro Bowl Feb. 13…12-yard touchdown catch from Peyton Manning gave AFC 28-7 lead in second quarter…caught 33-yard pass from Brees to start scoring drive in fourth quarter…drive ended with Tomlinson touchdown run for deciding points in victory.

2003: Team’s third-leading receiver with 24 catches…made permanent move into starting lineup Nov. 2 at Chicago…caught first-career touchdown pass against Minnesota Nov. 9 on four-yard pass from Doug Flutie…26-yard catch in fourth quarter set up final touchdown against Minnesota…grabbed 18-yard touchdown catch on pass from Flutie on final play of Kansas City game Nov. 30…set season high with 117 yards receiving on five catches against Green Bay Dec. 14…season-long 48-yard catch against Packers…was first Chargers rookie to have 100 receiving yards in game since Wayne Walker at Washington Dec. 10, 1989…matched season high with five catches at Pittsburgh Dec. 21.

COLLEGE: Associated Press honorable mention All-America following senior season when he averaged 20.6 points and 7.7 rebounds…also named first-team All-Mid American Conference and was runner-up for Player of Year honors…played on teams that won back-to-back MAC East Division Titles and posted consecutive 20-win seasons (2001-02 and 2002-03)…finished career ranked sixth in school history with 1,216 points…spent first college semester at Michigan State and transferred to Eastern Michigan University for spring semester in 1999 where he averaged 10.2 points and team-leading 7.4 rebounds…transferred to College of Sequoias in California for 2000-01 season but did not play basketball…majored in general studies.

PERSONAL: Born June 18, 1980 in Detroit, Michigan…led Detroit Central High School to Class A state championship as senior…first-team all-state selection in football and basketball.