San Diego Chargers Top 10 Players of All-Time

Nov 30, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) runs with the ball past Baltimore Ravens safety Brynden Trawick (28) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

5).TE Antonio Gates (2003-Present)

Like LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates was and is a staple of the San Diego Chargers offense. His career has seen he and Philip Rivers combine for the most touchdowns among QB to TE ever (60). Like Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys, Gates and Rivers are an unbreakable combination.

Gates himself plays as one of the biggest and most physical receiving tight ends in that he can break tackles and sustain big hits. Although he has sustained injuries in a majority of his seasons, he can still ball with the best of them. Even at 34, Gates caught 69 passes for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns (the most since 2004 when he caught 13).

Despite 12 years in the NFL, Gates has only caught less than seven touchdowns only twice in his entire career (two touchdowns in his rookie season and four touchdowns in 2013. That type of touchdown production is only seen in truly great offensive players.

Overall, Gates has caught 788 passes for 10,014 yards and 99 touchdowns in his 12-year NFL campaign. While he’s had only two 1,000-yard seasons, he caught for over 821 yards seven times. Not to mention, he’s fumbled the ball only six times and went to eight straight Pro Bowls from 2004-2011. His 99 receiving touchdowns rank ninth all-time and is 44th on the all-time receiving yards list.

If he isn’t considered one of the greatest tight ends of all-time, he should at least be considered the best Chargers tight end of all-time.

Next: Greatest Chargers Ever: Number 4