Chargers' Antonio Gates sits alone as TD leader among tight ends with 112
CARSON, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers veteran tight end Antonio Gates eclipsed Tony Gonzalez and now stands alone as the touchdown leader among tight ends in NFL history.
The play that put Gates over the top occurred with 8:18 left in the third quarter and the Chargers tied at 10-all with the Miami Dolphins in the team's home opener. The Dolphins won Sunday's game 19-17.
On second-and-7 from Miami's 7-yard line, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers found Gates on the duo's bread-and-butter play -- the option route -- with Gates going up high to haul in the pass and raising his hands in the air in celebration as he came down with the completion.
Gates was mobbed by his teammates in the end zone.
With 112 touchdown catches, Gates sits alone at No. 6 on the all-time list, trailing only Jerry Rice (197), Randy Moss (156), Terrell Owens (153), Cris Carter (130) and Marvin Harrison (128).
"I'm just fortunate enough to be in a position to do certain things and surpass certain obstacles," Gates said. "I mean, personally, I'm actually looking at the next guy. That's just the way I am. 'Who's next? Marvin? How many does he got?'
"That's just my competitive nature that I have. I'm always thinking about the next level, the next thing or the next improvement. I'm not stagnant. I'm not complacent."
Rivers and Gates have connected on 85 touchdowns, the most between a quarterback and tight end in league history.
"He's been awesome for so long," Rivers said. "I'm just thankful that I could be a part in a lot of them -- not all of them but a lot of them."
The milestone touchdown is another remarkable achievement by the former Kent State basketball player who never played college football but became one of the most productive tight ends in NFL history. Gates joined the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003 and quickly became a dependable receiver with a knack for finding the end zone, catching a career-high 13 TD passes in 2004.
Gates also made his 900th reception in the first half against Miami, becoming the third tight end in NFL history to hit the mark. Only Gonzalez and Jason Witten have more.
"I think he's one of the best of all time," said Anthony Lynn, the Chargers' fourth head coach in Gates' 15 NFL seasons. "He came into the league as an undrafted free agent and has accomplished all the things that he's accomplished. To me, he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I think he is the best. I was happy for him, but I wish we could have done it on a win."
With Gates firmly in the record books, the Chargers are free to concentrate on fixing a season that has begun with two narrow losses. That's a hallmark of the recent Chargers, who have lost 11 games by eight points or fewer since the start of last season.
"I'm glad it was sooner than later," Rivers said of Gates' history-making catch. "I didn't want the season to keep going and him to keep getting asked. Hopefully we can add to it now because he's always been a big part of our red zone stuff, and he will continue to be."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
