Collect Gates’ Best Cards
Although he didn’t play football in college and wasn’t even drafted into the league, Antonio Gates is one of the best tight ends ever and unequivocally the best undrafted free agent ever. He started slow, barely playing in his rookie year, but in 2004, he broke out and became a touchdown-catching machine who still holds the record for most touchdown receptions by a tight end (116).
Now, with Gates on the shortlist to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025, it seems like the perfect time to look at some of this undeniable TE GOAT’s vintage cards from the early aughts and a choice selection from the 2023 Topps Motif Football set. Any interesting pulls we missed?
The Best Antonio Gates Cards
2024 Topps Motif Football Acrylic Drip Auto #AD-AG Antonio Gates
Player info
• Fourth-most Career receiving yards for a TE: 11,841
• Fourth-most career receptions for a TE: 955
Set info
• Acrylic Drip Autographs features 50 players
• Five parallels with a 1/1 printing plate parallel featuring four colors
Card back
• name, position, team, card code, and a guarantee of the card’s authentic signature as witnessed by a Topps representative
2007 Topps Football Triple Threads Auto Relic #TTRA132 Antonio Gates
Player info
• Holds the league record for most tds by a Te: 116
• Gates and Philip Rivers are second all-time for qb-te duos with 89 TDs (Brady and Gronkowski have 90)
set info
• Topps triple threads featured 149 players
What they said
• “I know Philip Rivers is the quarterback, but [Antonio] Gates is the key. ” – Keyshawn Johnson
2015 Topps Football 60th Anniversary #380 Antonio Gates
Player info
• Ninth player and second tight end to catch 100+ career receiving touchdowns
• Seventh tight end with 500+ career receptions
set info
• Gates is no.60 in the “topp 60” subset
What they said
• “Believe me, there’s no guy I wanted to throw to more.” – Philip Rivers
2013 Topps Football Supreme Dual Auto Relic #SDAP-TG LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates /15
Player info
• fourth-most 100-yd games by a te: 21
• played 236 regular season games in his 16-year career
set info
• Supreme dual auto patches features 20 sets of teammates
What they said
• “It was truly an honor and privilege to coach Antonio Gates. Antonio is one of the best ever to play the game, and he’s a special person. He always helped his teammates both on and off the field.” – Coach Mike Mccoy
2004 Topps Football #152 Antonio Gates RC
Player info
• career season high of 13 td catches came in 2004 (with Drew Brees at QB)
• holds the record for the most games with 2+ tds for a te: 21
set info
• 385 card set
• 16 inserts with three parallel sets
player quote
• “A dunk is nice because it can create momentum, but it’s not as good as scoring a touchdown.- Antonio gates
