Antonio Gates Sets New San Diego Chargers Receiving Record in Loss to Broncos [GIFs]

From 1962-70 San Diego Chargers  wide receiver Lance Alworth caught 493 passes for 9584 yards and 81 touchdowns. For the next 44 years the mark stood as the most career receiving yards in the history of the franchise. After Thursday night's Chargers-Broncos game the mark is now the second highest in franchise history.

The new high belongs to future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates.

via Bleacher Report

The record breaker came early in the night when Phillip Rivers tossed this bullet to Gates for a nice 30-yard gain and a first down:

via Bleacher Report

It gave Gates a career total of 9596 yards. When the night was done the mark sat at 9610.

As impressive as the mark it is worth noting that Alworth--who stood just 6' and weighed in at 184 pounds--set the mark in just eight seasons and 110 games. Gates--who is 6'4" and 260 pounds--did it in his 12th season and took 171 games.

Nothing against Gates of course. He is a bad man, but so was Alworth in his day and without the physical attributes of Gates.

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