Antonio Gates is officially in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Chargers legendary tight end gave his speech Saturday afternoon in Canton after Dean Spanos, the Chargers Owner and Chairman of the Board, presented Gates and helped reveal his bust.

Here is the full transcript of Gates' Hall of Fame speech:

"I know what y'all trying to do, I ain't crying today. I'm just saying, I'm not going to cry today. These last couple of days have just been unbelievable. Still wrapping my head around it all. First, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to display my gifts and also allowing me to be here today. It's truly an honor. I would like to thank the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I would like to thank Jim Porter and his staff and all the NFL fans all over the world. Love you too man. It's funny, as I stand here I'm overwhelmed, not just by the honor of this moment but by the journey I had to travel to get here. You see this gold jacket, it doesn't really just represent the game of football, it represents my family, represents my faith, represents my sacrifice and a whole bunch of love from all of y'all out here. That's why I want to thank this time to thank those that God put into my life that allowed me to get here.

"First, I want to thank my parents. Mom, I watched you raise five kids and never complain. You believed in me before I could believe in myself. You gave me everything mom, you gave me time, you gave me love, you gave me wisdom. Oh yeah, you gave me a lot of whoopings too mom. I just want you to know that I carried it with me every step of my career and often I know you wonder how you were as a mom. I just want you to know, you were an unbelievable mom, so thank you mom. To my father, my father passed away earlier this year and I know he's smiling down, watching, bragging on his son. My father taught me how to be a man, he taught me strength, taught me toughness. Although this bust might have my name on it, make no mistake about it, it has my father's fingerprints, his legacy and his spirit. I am who I am today because of my father. So dad, rest in peace and I love you.

"To my brothers and sisters, [Joan, Junior, Gerald, Tina and Maddie], thank you all got keeping it real every time I came home from San Diego. We been through a lot this last year, but I want each and every one of you to know that I've never taken a single one of you for granted. So thank you, and I love you too. To my little brother Mo, Muhammad, I don't say it enough little bro but thank you. Thank you for just being you little brother, always showing up when it counts. We have a bond that's like no other and not because we're just blood, but because it's love, it's history, it's trust. I and grateful for you little brother, I will always be there for you just like you've always been there for me. Death before dishonor, and that's written in my soul. I love you little brother. To my kids, my babies. You're my everything. Every choice I make, everything I do I carry you with me. I said I wasn't going to cry but. You're my heartbeat, you taught me more about love and patience and purpose than I ever learned about playing football or a playbook. I just hope by watching me today, you understand that anything is possible. Not just in football, but in the game of life. Dream big, work hard and never ever forget where you come from. This moment, this honor is just not about me, it's about us, the Gates family. I love you more than anything in the world. I love you kids and thank you.

"To Denise White and EAG Sports, I want to say thank you. You've been more than just a publicist to me Denise, you've been a true friend. Through all my highs and lows, you were always there. I know I haven't always made it easy for you, but you were there year by year, day by day with your patience and your loyalty. Thank you Denise White and EAG Sports for walking this journey with me. Thank you.

"To the city of Detroit, what up though. You taught me pride, you taught me how to fight through everything and never quit. That blue collar spirit, the heartbeat of the city, it lives in me, it always has. I remember growing up in the streets of Detroit and we would use crates and play basketball, and we would cut the bottom out for hoops and I would play with my boy Gary Morris or Dwight Smith, or my boy Leon Bryan. He would take me to the University of Detroit and we would watch high school basketball at Callahan Hall. Or a friend of mine named Mat Ishbia or his dad Jeff, would come pick me up and take me to AAU practices. Shoutout to the Michigan Mustangs. My point is that Detroit, you helped shaped my dreams so when I would play in these NFL stadiums, I always felt like I had to represent the block that I came from. Shoutout to Lynwood, Dexter, Pearton Avenue, this one is for us. West side of Detroit, this is for us. To Detroit Central High School, that's where my foundation was built. The school wasn't fancy, the weight room was old, but the love, the belief, man that was everything. To my teammates, Dante Darling, Jimmy Twyman, Gam, Martez Welch, Dune, Dwight Smith, man we was just kids chasing a dream. We were just kids chasing a dream, not knowing where life would take us, but we did it together. We had heart. Those practices, those bus rides singing those songs, that state championship, that was the beginning of everything for me. You were my first real team, you had my back before anybody even knew my name. I just want y'all to know that I never forgot those days, I never forgot where it all started. You helped build this Hall of Famer, so thank you to my Detroit high school teammates.

"To my coaches at Central High School, the late great Coach Woody Thomas, late great Doc Wilson, Coach Eric Smith, Coach Jimmie Macon, Coach Lorenzo Morris, you taught me discipline and respect. Made sure I understood that greatness isn't given, it's earned one rep at a time, one day at a time. So thank you coaches. To coach Oronde Taliaferro, I want to thank you Coach Oronde Taliaferro, you helped me get out of the streets of Detroit. You didn't just teach me about sports, you taught me how to think differently, you taught me how to structure. Because of you, Oronde Taliaferro, I'm in a better place physically, mentally and emotionally. You helped me rewrite my story Coach Oronde Taliaferro, you helped me rewrite my story. So thank you coach.

"To all the kids out there that's surrounded by gang violence and drugs, and you want to make something out of your life. Well I'm living proof if you stay focused, stay on the right path, you got heart, you got hustle and never stop believing, anything is possible.

"To Kent State University. Kent State, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kent State is where I learned how to take my raw talent and turn it into much more. Kent is also where I learned how to lead and represent something bigger than myself. To my teammates, John Merritt, Andrew Mitchell, Drew, [DeAndre] Haynes, Anthony Wilkins, so many more, [Eric] Haut, so many more. We battled together, we built something special. Those MAC Championships, that Elite 8 run, how special was that. From the bottom of my heart, some of the funnest times in my life at Kent State University, so Kent State University, I want to thank you. To my Kent State coaches, Coach Rob Senderoff, Coach Jim Christian, Coach Stan Heath, thank you all for giving me the tools I needed to turn my potential into a purpose, so thank you to those coaches. Coach Rob Murphy, you helped me too man get out of the streets of Detroit. I will never forget what you've done me. You helped me live, you gave me money when you weren't supposed to, you gave me a lot of money Coach Rob Murphy. But you protected me Coach Murphy, you protected me from the predators, you looked out for me, so thank you Coach Rob Murphy.

"To tell you a little story about me. You've seen the video. Some may know and some may not know, but when I was a senior at Kent State, I didn't play a down of college football. Coach Rob Murphy and I were trying to find ways to get me through the next level. At the time, we didn't know what we were going to do but him and [Rob] Senderoff tried to find ways to write teams to try and get me NFL tryouts.

"Out of nowhere, they introduced me to a guy named Tim Brewster. Brew! Coach Tim Brewster, at the time, was the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers. Tim Brewster saw something special in me. He was pretty sure I could make the team and was adamant that I'd be All-Pro in three years. You see the thing is, when switching sports or careers for that matter, it can be life changing. The unexpected are often the most powerful ones because it can completely redirect your life if you're ready to take advantage and you're ready for the opportunity. Thanks to Coach Tim Brewster and Coach Marty Schottenheimer, they gave me an opportunity to play tight end in the NFL. Because of you, Tim Brewster, NFL teams and NFL scouts will never look at college basketball players the same again. Thank you, Tim Brewster.

"I also want to thank this time to thank the legends, the tight ends who paved the way. Tight ends like Mike Ditka, Charlie Sanders, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow, Sr., Ozzie Newsome. Thank you, legends, for pushing the position and giving me a lane I was fortunate enough to walk. Thank you to those legends.

"To Mr. Dean Spanos and the Spanos family and the whole entire Chargers organization, I want to say thank you for allowing me to represent the franchise for so many years and believing in me. You treated me life family, Mr. Spanos and the Spanos family, and trust me when I tell you, as players, that's what matters the most. I will never forget and am forever grateful and will continue to represent the Chargers and the Bolts with honor and integrity. Thank you to Mr. Spanos and the Chargers organization.

"I also want to thank some incredible people from the Chargers organization that are behind the scenes that had an impact on my journey as well. People like Dr. Herb Martin, [Arthur] Hightower, Jen Rojas, Jamaal LaFrance, Dr. [David] Chao, [James] Collins. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support over my years. I can't say enough about what you did to help my career. Thank you to those Chargers in the organization. I appreciate you.

"To all my Chargers head coaches … Anthony Lynn, Mike McCoy, the late, great Marty Schottenheimer, thank you as well. Coach Norv Turner, you are an offensive genius. You helped me in so many ways and I hope to see you in the Hall of Fame one day. Thank you for everything you've done for me.

"To all my position coaches, some of the best position coaches a tight end has ever seen. Coaches like Tim Brewster, Rob Chudzinski, Jason Michael, Clancy Barone … you're commitment to me did not go unnoticed. You all pushed me to the man and player I was meant to be. You came in my life at the right time, I guess that what it means to be chosen. You helped shape my legacy, coaches, in so many ways and I am forever grateful. Thank you, coaches, for your support.

"To my Charger teammates, the guys I went to battle with every Sunday. We pushed each other, we challenged each other and we picked each other up through it all. Guys like Malcolm Floyd, Stephen Cooper, Brandon Manumaleuna, Courtney Van Buren, Kris Dielman, Marcus McNiell, Matt Wilhelm. We built the culture based on toughness and trust. You weren't just good players. You were great people. Thank you all for holding me accountable. We've created a bond that'll last a lifetime. So, thank you to my teammates.

"To my quarterbacks. Doug Flutie, thank you because you threw me my very first touchdown. Drew Brees, thank you because you helped kick start my career.

"Philip Rivers, what we had on that football field was special. You weren't just a guy throwing the ball. You were the heartbeat on offense. Your fire, your passion, your IQ was unmatched. You saw the game the same way. You trusted me and I trusted you, and that trust led to some of the best moments of my career. I always knew where that ball was going, Phil, and I always knew it was coming with a purpose. Philip Rivers, it was absolute pleasure have played with you."

"Of course, I've got to show love to one of the greatest to ever do it, one of the greatest football players to ever play. LT, sharing that field with you was like watching poetry in motion. You set the standard, LT, not just for how you played, but how you prepared. I learned by just watching and every Sunday, I feel lucky to be on the same side as No. 21. Thank you, LT, but not just because you're a Hall of Fame player, because you're a Hall of Fame teammate. I appreciate you always.

"Thank you to the City of Los Angeles. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to write my final chapter of my career. Your generosity, your kindness, it was really appreciated. So, thank you to the city of Los Angeles. I appreciate you.

"To the City of San Diego, you embraced me. You supported me. San Diego was where I first became a Charger, where I first became a tight end and where I first became a father. I will never forget running out of Qualcomm Stadium and seeing all that powder blue. I felt the love, I felt, the energy, I felt the belief. San Diego, you will always have my heart. No matter where I live in the world, San Diego will always be home. So, thank you to the city of San Diego.

"You see football is the ultimate team game, and I didn't get here alone. I'm standing here today because the people who poured into to me. What I've learned through it all — a kid from Detroit to San Diego, living in Los Angeles right now — had it not been for sports, I probably would have never crossed paths with half of you in here. And that's why sports is such a great reminder to us as humans that we're not divided as people may think. We're more than just black or white, rich or poor. That's why it's important for us to keep pushing unity to make this country a better place.

"To my coaches, my teammates, my friends and family, I carry each of you with me to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thank you all and God bless you."