Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates joined Sterling Sharpe as the Class of 2025 was inducted into football immortality during a ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, where the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Detroit Lions 34-7 on Thursday night to kick off the NFL preseason.

There have been many NFL GMs and coaches who have beaten their own chests over the Horatio Alger players, how they “discovered” talent. Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Terrell Davis went in the sixth round. Brilliant choices by Bill Belichick and Mike Shanahan, no?

Former Kent State basketball player Antonio Gates joined Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe as the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025.