One of the greatest tight ends to ever play the position has his second chance at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Antonio Gates — who owns the record for most touchdown receptions by a tight end in NFL history (116) — was announced among the 167 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the news Wednesday morning, as 16 players in their first year of eligibility were added to the list.
Gates, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time Associated Press All-Pro selection, was a finalist in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Bolts in 2003, Gates spent his entire career in the powder blue and finished his career with 955 receptions for 11,841 yards and 116 touchdowns.
In addition to his touchdowns record, Gates' 39 touchdown receptions on third down are also the most in league history at tight end and tied with Hall of Fame WR Cris Carter for No. 3 overall. His 11,841 receiving yards are also No. 3 all-time among his position in NFL history.
Gates was a member of the NFL's All Decade Team (2000-09) and was also honored on the Chargers 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 2023, he became the 41st member enshrined into the Chargers Hall of Fame.
Over the course of his career, Gates registered eight seasons with eight-plus receiving touchdowns, the most ever by a tight end and tied for No. 5 all-time.
The 50 person Hall of Fame Selection Committee will reduce the list to 50 players in mid-October then later to 25 Semifinalists later this fall. They will then vote again to create the list of 15 Finalists who will be discussed at the annual meeting ahead of Super Bowl LVIX before the class is announced in early 2025.
Among the players who were announced in their first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is former Chargers running back Darren Sproles, who spent the first six of his 15 year NFL career in the powder blue.
The running back also spent three seasons with the Saints and six with the Eagles, as he was a three-time Pro Bowler and also won a Super Bowl during his career.
Sproles, also listed as a punt/kick returner, was a dynamic player in the backfield accumulating 8,392 yards from scrimmage and 55 rushing and receiving touchdowns in his career.
He was just as explosive in the return game, scoring nine return touchdowns (seven on punt, two on kickoff) and earning a spot on the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team as a punt returner.
Sproles ranks sixth all-time in all-purpose yards with 19,696 is tied for the most seasons with 2,000 or more all-purpose yards in NFL History (four).
Also among the nominees list was safety Rodney Harrison, who was a finalist for the 2024 class.
Drafted by the Chargers in 1994, Harrison spent nine seasons with the team and was a Pro Bowl selection twice during his tenure.
A two-time Super Bowl champion later in his career and two-time First-Team All-Pro, he helped set the modern standard for safeties across the league.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie will also get another crack at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as it is his third year of eligibility.
A four-time Pro Bowler, arguably his best season came in 2007 with the Chargers where he racked up a single-season career-high 10 interceptions and two fumbles recovered on his way to an All-Pro selection.
Cromartie also scored six touchdowns in his NFL career and is tied for the longest scoring play in NFL history, a 109-yard touchdown return following a missed field goal in 2007.
Fullback Lorenzo Neal returns to the nominees list as well.
A driving force for the success the Bolts had running the ball with Hall of Fame running back LaDanian Tomlinson, Neal earned a spot as a member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s and is recognized as one best modern fullbacks in recent history.
A pair of Chargers Hall of Famers in defensive tackle Jamal Williams (2022) and punter Darren Bennett (2012) also return among the nominees.
A total of 11 former Chargers to make the nominees list, including punter Darren Bennett, linebacker Takeo Spikes, quarterback Doug Flutie, linebacker Donnie Edwards and running back (also WR/PR/KR) Eric Metcalf.
