After missing the entire 2019-2020 football season, future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates is finally calling it a career. He played in the NFL for 16 years — every season with the Chargers.
Gates officially announced his retirement in a statement on Twitter Tuesday afternoon.
— Antonio Gates (@AntonioGates85) January 14, 2020
I never dreamed that I would play this game of football for so long or how fortunate I would be to play it with just one organization. I want to thank the Chargers organization, the National Football League, Dean Spanos and the Spanos family for the opportunity to live out a dream and play the game I love.
Shortly after his announcement, the Chargers dropped a pretty dope video honoring Gates and changed his number to their Twitter profile picture.
Antonio Gates calls it a career.
GOAT, period. pic.twitter.com/epugVtD5ep
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) January 14, 2020
Gates left it all on the field and will undoubtedly be a Hall of Famer as one of the greatest tight ends ever. Yet, still, we’re left with so many questions.
What if he had won a Super Bowl? What if he left the Chargers? What if someone else just drafted him instead of letting him become an undrafted free agent?
Personally, I only have one. What if he chose basketball? Honestly! He was basically Kent State’s version of LeBron James. Just check the numbers.
Anyway, none of that matters. Shout out to Gates for a phenomenal career. Next time we see him he’ll be in Canton.
[jwplayer ZEucvvev-q2aasYxh]