In honor of his achievement, the Chargers celebrated by adopting a goat in Gates's honor. The goat, a nod to the team considering Gates the "greatest of all time" tight end, is named Gatesy after him. Gatesy resides at the San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm.

Gates consistently provided key catches, especially on third downs, and served as a safety value for Chargers quarterbacks when plays went off script.

Philip Rivers, one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history, is eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 2026. Rivers spent 16 seasons with the Chargers, leading the team through some of its most competitive years in the league.