Antonio Gates career stats: Chargers legend to be enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has already been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All he’s waiting for now is his official enshrinement this weekend.

Throughout a 16-year career, one entirely spent with the Chargers, Gates was one of the most successful tight ends in history. His 116 receiving touchdowns still stand as a record for the position, seven years after his retirement, and he ranks among the top tight ends in just about every other career statistic.

Gates earned the Hall of Fame nod in his second year on the ballot after he was a surprise snub from last year’s class.

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This year, he’ll be one of four members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, joining Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe. The four inductees this year mark the fewest in a Pro Football Hall of Fame class since 2005.

Ahead of Saturday’s Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at Gates’ career numbers and where he stacks up among all-time tight end greats.

Antonio Gates career stats

Gates played his entire 16-year career in San Diego and Los Angeles with the Chargers. He retired as the team’s all-time leader in receiving yards; a franchise record he still holds.

Here are Gates’ stats from his Hall of Fame career:

• Games: 236 (190 starts)

• Targets: 1,459

• Receptions: 955

• Receiving yards: 11,841

• Yards per reception: 12.4

• Touchdowns: 116

Gates’ stats don’t paint the whole picture. The former Charger also made eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 2004 to 2011, and he was a three-time, first-team All-Pro from 2004 to 2006. His 2009 and 2010 seasons also earned Gates two second-team All-Pro nods.

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Where does Antonio Gates rank among other tight end greats?

Gates had some of the best career stats of any tight end in history.

Here’s how he ranks among other all-time greats at his position:

Career touchdowns

1. Antonio Gates, 116

2. Tony Gonzalez, 111

3. Rob Gronkowski, 92

4. Jimmy Graham, 89

5. Travis Kelce, 77

Career receptions

1. Tony Gonzalez, 1,325

2. Jason Witten, 1,228

3. Travis Kelce, 1,004

4. Antonio Gates, 955

5. Shannon Sharpe, 808

Career receiving yards

1. Tony Gonzalez, 15,127

2. Jason Witten, 13,046

3. Travis Kelce, 12,151

4. Antonio Gates, 11,841

5. Shannon Sharpe, 9,961

Career yards per game

1. Travis Kelce, 69.4

2. George Kittle, 65.3

3. Rob Gronkowski, 64.9

4. Kellen Winslow, 61.8

5. Tony Gonzalez, 56.0

6. Todd Christensen 54.4

7. Shannon Sharpe, 53.0

8. Antonio Gates, 50.2

9. Zach Ertz, 48.1

10. Jason Witten, 48.1

Yards per catch (min. 500 receptions)

1. Rob Gronkowski, 15.0

2. George Kittle, 13.7

3. Jared Cook, 13.1

4. Vernon Davis, 13.0

5. Kellen Winslow, 12.5

6. Antonio Gates, 12.4

7. Shannon Sharpe, 12.3

8. Travis Kelce, 12.1

9. Ozzie Newsome, 12.1

10. Jimmy Graham, 11.9

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Antonio Gates stats: Numbers from Chargers TE’s HOF career