SAN DIEGO — In 16 NFL seasons, former Chargers tight end Antonio Gates used his talented feet to assemble a Hall of Fame-worthy career with 11,841 yards and 116 touchdowns. There's still magic left in those route runners, apparently.
Gates, 41, used those same feet to transform himself to 1963 and a Virginia mountain lodge, channeling Patrick Swayze's character Johnny Castle in the iconic movie, "Dirty Dancing."
Instead of worrying about flag routes, Gates focused on a fresh and completely foreign type of footwork in the current Fox reality show, "The Real Dirty Dancing."
Ready … set … stress.
"I said, let me try this thing," Gates said. "I was very uncomfortable. Never danced, never had a class. I barely danced on my wedding day."
The world Gates used to live in required him to stiff-arm opposing tacklers and deliver jaw-rattling blocks. As a dancer, he had to redirect his power and recalculate his thoughts about competition.
More Fred Astaire. Less Fred Dryer.
"That was probably the biggest learning curve," Gates said. "The whole show felt like a life-skill lesson for me. For the simple fact, my whole life since I was 12, I've been playing sports.
"Programming-wise, I felt like I was breaking through a barrier from being institutionalized because you're using less force. Not so strong. Not so rough. Those are things that get you pats on the back as a player. 'Good job. Way to be aggressive. Don't take (bull) from no one.'
"To be in a dance class when you truly depend on your partner."
Gates was paired with Brie Bella, a professional wrestler. Show highlights include the former NFL star dropping his partner into a lake attempting one of the movie's most memorable moments at fictional Kellerman's Lodge.
Given that Gates finished his career with the seventh most touchdown receptions in NFL history while setting the scoring standard for tight ends, drops generally aren't his thing.
"It's almost like a golf swing. It's more of a technique," said Gates, who is 6-4 and played at 255 pounds. "The guy that was showing me and teaching me, he might weigh 160 and he was doing things that were effortless that I struggled with from a power standpoint.
"I'm like, 'I'm eight times these guys' size. I know I'm stronger.' But I struggled with it. Your power was only part of it."
The experience sparked memories of his time — and timing — on the field.
"They have a thing, the seven-eight count in dance, that was a direct correlation to route running," Gates said. "In my mind, it's like a five-step (quarterback) drop. That's essentially a seven count, in a way. I was able to grasp some of the concepts faster, because I have that system in my head."
Some mental wiring required flushing.
"I never considered dance, a situation where you need to be vulnerable to your partner and your partner is being vulnerable to you," he said. "The least vulnerable person in sports is generally the most successful.
"… I walked away a brand new human being, a brand new man, a brand new father, just for the simple fact that I was vulnerable and I was OK with it. I felt like I had more strength, being vulnerable."
Gates admitted he had not seen the movie until he started prepping for the show. Putting in the work and competing came naturally. Studying a new playbook translated, as well.
In the end, the sounds caught his attention more than the scenes.
"I hadn't seen the movie, so that was another dynamic," he said. "Everything was predicated around dance and chemistry and togetherness, trust. It had a lot of similarities to my background in sports. You have to prepare the way you want play, in a sense. That was the easy part. Getting the steps and routines down, that was the hard part.
"And shoot, I love the soundtrack now."
Through it all, Gates indeed had the time of his life.
"It was probably the most fun I've had in my life," he said. "What I've learned over time, with my 16-year career, I typically regret the things I don't try. So that was really one of the biggest (factors) in why I wanted to get involved."
Though nobody puts Baby in the corner, the show will reveal if Gates found himself there.
Choose your Fred wisely.
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NFL quick-fire with Gates
Former Chargers All-Pro Antonio Gates reacted to a range of football topics.
— Hall of Fame chances: "I'm always an optimistic person. Based on seeing what people get in with, I've done or surpassed (much of that). But at the end of the day, you never know. There are guys you think should get in that didn't get in. … Just anxiety and nervousness … because that's the pinnacle. That's the stars among stars."
— Best tight end in NFL: "The best is probably (George) Kittle (of the 49ers), because he means the most to his team."
— Tom Brady retirement : "When you have the opportunity to play against a guy like that, that's something you can tell your kids about, 'I played against Tom Brady.' He makes the game easier. … When I went into the huddle with him in Pro Bowls, whatever he tells you, you think it's going to work. He could tell me to run to the cooler over there and I'd run to the cooler. He had that leadership ability."
— Brian Flores, NFL lawsuit : "We're pushing the envelope in the right direction. … In terms of systemic racism, experiencing that as an African-American, a Black man, a man of color, things do happen. The more we can voice our opinion and be aware of certain things, the more things can change for the better for everybody.
— Bryce Miller
This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.
