The Facts: One of the all-time great tight ends is hanging up his cleats. Gates announced on Twitter that he is retiring after 16 seasons in the NFL. "After 16 seasons in the NFL, 16 seasons as a Charger, eight Pro Bowl appearances and many records broken, I find it hard to officially put this statement out and retire from the game of football," said Gates in a statement.

Diehards Line: Famously a college basketball player who never played football at the college level, Gates caught the eye of the Chargers in a workout and signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003. The rest is history. The tight end became one of the most prolific pass-catchers in NFL history. Gates finishes his career with 116 touchdowns, most from a tight end in league history. He ranks seventh all-time in TDs. Philip Rivers' long-time security blanket, Gates was a matchup nightmare in the red zone, where he could simultaneously box out defenders and sky high for passes. Gates helped revolutionize the tight end position. Among TEs, he ranks first in NFL history with 21 career multi-touchdown games and fourth with 21 100-yard receiving performances. Gates and Rivers combined for 89 career touchdowns, most of any QB-TE combo, and second-most among any duo. Certainly Hall of Fame worthy, Gates helped the Chargers capture four AFC West titles from 2006-2009, was named to eight Pro Bowls, and three first-team All-Pro teams.