Antonio Gates Joins Tony Gonzalez as Only TEs with 100 Career Receiving TDs

On Monday, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates became just the second man in NFL history at his position to record 100 career touchdowns. He joins legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez, who ranks sixth on the all-time touchdown receptions list with 111.

The milestone touchdown came in the first quarter of his team's showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bleacher Report highlighted the achievement:

He also tied wide receivers Steve Largent and Tim Brown for seventh all-time on the NFL's receiving touchdown list.

Gates had to wait longer than expected to get his 100th touchdown. Finishing the 2014 season with 99 touchdowns, he was suspended for the first four games this year for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.     

All Gates did was catch a touchdown in the first quarter of the first game of his return.

As the NFL's active leader in touchdown receptions, Gates has recorded four seasons of 10 touchdowns or more. The majority of his career catching passes are from Philip Rivers—of his 100 touchdowns, 73 of them have come from the San Diego signal-caller. His others were delivered by notable names such as Doug Flutie, Drew Brees and even two from running back LaDainian Tomlinson. 

The pair of Rivers and Gates has combined for the most touchdowns by a quarterback-tight end duo in the history of the NFL, per ESPN's John Buccigross. 

A versatile tight end who can run effective routes downfield, Gates is dangerous from all areas but a safety blanket of sorts for Rivers in the red zone. With reliable hands and the vertical to outjump defenders, there's a reason why the 35-year-old has a few more productive seasons left in him.

The NFL delves deeper into Gates' career in this video.

DENIS POROY/Associated Press

At the rate he gets into the end zone, it won't come as much of a surprise if Gates surpasses Gonzalez for most career touchdowns as a tight end. If he does, Gates will move into sixth-place all-time on the NFL's receiving touchdowns list. 

Expect it to happen sooner rather than later too, as Gates holds such a reliable connection with Rivers that he will continue to pad his stats on an already-historic career. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.