Antonio Gates Hall Speech
“As I stand here I’m overwhelmed, not just by the honor of this moment, but by the journey I had to travel to get here. You see, this gold jacket, it doesn’t really just represent the game of football. It represents my family, it represents my faith, it represents my sacrifice, and a whole bunch of love from all of y’all out here.”
“Mom, I watched you raise five kids and never complain. You believed in me before I could believe in myself. You gave me everything, mom. You gave me time, you gave me love, you gave me wisdom. Oh yeah, you gave me a lot of whoppings, too, mom. I just want you to know that I carried it with me every step of my career.”
“To my father, my father passed away earlier this year. I know he’s smiling down, watching, bragging on his son. But my father taught me how to be a man, taught me strength, taught me toughness. Although this bust might have my name on it, make no mistake about it, it has my father’s fingerprints, his legacy and spirit. I am who I am today because of my father. So, dad, rest in peace and I love you.”
“To my kids, my babies, you’re my everything. Every choice I make, everything I do, I carry you with me. I said I wasn’t gonna cry, but you’re my heartbeat. You taught me more about love and patience and purpose than I ever learned about playing football or in the playbook.”
“To all the kids out there that’s surrounded with gang violence and drugs, and you want to make something out of your life, well I’m living proof. If you stay focused, stay on the right path, you got heart, you got hustle and never stop believing, anything is possible.”
“Kent State, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kent State is where I learned how to take my raw talent and turn it into much more. Kent is also where I learned how to lead and represent something bigger than myself.”
“I also want to take this time to thank the legends, the tight ends who paved the way. Tight ends like Mike Ditka, Charlie Sanders, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow Sr., Ozzie Newsome, thank you legends for pushing the position and giving me a lane that I was fortunate enough to walk.”
“To Mr. Dean Spanos and the Spanos family and the whole entire Chargers organization, I want to say thank you for allowing me to represent the franchise for so many years and believing in me. You’ve treated me like family, Mr. Spanos and the Spanos family, and trust me when I tell you, as players, that’s what matters the most. I will never forget, I am forever grateful and I will continue to represent the Chargers and the Bolts with honor and integrity.”
“To my Chargers teammates, the guys I went to battle with every Sunday, we pushed each other, we challenged each other, we picked each other up through it all. … You wasn’t just good players, you were great people. Thank you all for holding me accountable. We’ve created a bond that will last a lifetime.”
“Philip Rivers. Phil, what we had on that football field was special. You wasn’t just the guy throwing the ball, you were the heartbeat of the offense. Your fire, your passion, your IQ was unmatched. We saw the game the same way. You trusted me and I trusted you. And that trust led to some of the best moments of my career. I always knew where that ball was going, and I always knew it was coming with a purpose. Philip Rivers, it was an absolute pleasure to have played with you.”
“Now, of course, I’ve got to show love to one of the greatest to ever do it and one of the greatest football players to ever play. Hey, LT, sharing that field with you, man, was like poetry in motion. You set the standard, not just by how you played, but how you prepared. I learned by just watching. And every Sunday, I felt lucky to be on the same side as number 21. Thank you, LT, not just because you’re a Hall of Fame player — because you’re a Hall of Fame teammate.”
“To the city of Los Angeles, thank you for welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to write the final chapter in my career.”
“To the city of San Diego, you embraced me, you supported me. San Diego is where I first became a Charger, where I first became a tight end, where I first became a father. I will never forget running out of Qualcomm Stadium and seeing all that powder blue. I felt the love, I felt the energy, I felt the belief. San Diego, you will always have my heart. No matter where I live in the world, San Diego will always be home.”
“Football is the ultimate team game, and I didn’t get here alone. I’m standing here today because of people who have poured into me. And what I’ve learned through it all, a kid from Detroit, to San Diego, living in Los Angeles right now, had it not been for sports, I probably would’ve never crossed paths with half of you here. That’s why sports is such a great reminder to us as humans that we’re not as divided as people may think. We’re more than just black or white, rich or poor. That’s why it’s important for us to keep pushing unity to make this country a better place.”
