Los Angeles Chargers great Antonio Gates was officially enshrined as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class at NFL Honors. Before that much-deserved reveal, though, Gates himself found out about it in a heartwarming fashion.

It didn't take long for Antonio Gates to transfer his Kent State basketball dominance to the NFL. Now he's headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gates, who caught 116 touchdown passes in a 16-year career spent entirely with the Chargers, is elected alongside defensive end Jared Allen, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe and cornerback Eric Allen.