Chargers Rumors: After Patriots Loss, Will Antonio Gates Retire?

The Los Angeles Chargers bowed out of the NFL playoffs after a 41-28 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, but big questions loom about the AFC West squad. Legendary tight end Antonio Gates is on an expiring contract, and at age 38, there are no guarantees he will ever play for the Chargers, or any team, again.

However, according to Gates, he does not want to go out after a blowout loss to the Patriots. Gates said he wants to return to the Chargers next season after the game on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Eric D. Williams.

"I just don't see myself walking away with this taste," Gates said. "And plus this team. I think when you add Hunter [Henry] back, and hopefully we get Jason Verrett back -- shoot, the sky's the limit. And I want to be a part of it.”

It all depend on whether or not the Chargers want to keep Gates around. Young, emerging tight end Hunter Henry is finally healthy again, and even with Henry’s injury, Gates only managed 28 catches, 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2018.

The Chargers did not want to bring Gates back until Henry’s offseason injury last year, per ESPN. Gates said he wanted to “remind them that I want to come back,” but that the situation is out of his control.

If he retired today, Gates would leave behind a legacy as the Chargers’ all-time leader in most major receiving categories. He has recorded 960 catches for 11,882 yards and 117 touchdowns in his career, with 90 of those touchdowns coming from Philip Rivers.

Gates has not recorded more than 800 receiving yards in a season since 2014. His last 1,000 yard season came in 2009.