Our 5 favorite lessons from Antonio Gates, Jared Allen and the NFL Hall of Fame inductees

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Editor’s Note: This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports. Follow Peak here.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2025 featured four NFL legends: Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe.

As I listened to each of the four reflect on their careers on Saturday, it became apparent that the lessons they learned were just as unique as their accomplishments.

Here are my favorite takeaways from each:

Jared Allen: Find your why

The north star in Allen’s life is his “why,” a list of three personal values with significant meaning to him: Fear, respect and pursuit of greatness.

Fear: “I’m not talking about that kind of fear that cripples you,” Allen said. “I’m talking about that healthy fear, that fear that motivates you.”

Respect: “When you respect something or someone so much that you want to honor that thing or that person by being the best you can possibly be,” he said.

Allen, a defensive end mostly for the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, made it a point to always remember why he played football: For the respect of his peers and the respect of those who came before him. That constant reminder made him want to continue to get better.

Pursuit of greatness: Allen had a list of the NFL sack leaders taped up in his locker every season, so that he could show up to work every day and “physically see greatness.” A small sign, but by constantly reminding himself that there were others working hard like him, he put himself in a position to give it everything he had each day.

During his speech, Allen referenced dropping out of college twice. And while he was a fourth-round draft pick in 2004, he was determined to make an immediate impact. He recorded nine sacks in his rookie season, and finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He fought through injuries and had five Pro Bowl selections and was named first team All Pro four times.

Through it all, he said the “why” he created for himself drove him to get up each morning and do whatever was necessary to achieve his goals. The why, he said, is what makes you different.

“Find your why,” he said.

Sterling Sharpe: Learn how to follow and then you can lead

In order to develop his leadership skills, Sharpe understood early on that he’d need to absorb what he could from those around him. He knew that finding peers to look up to and learn from would make him better.

When you’re given a big chance or opportunity, you can give yourself a head start once you’re there by observing and understanding what the experienced, effective leaders are doing. It’ll help you eventually step into that role yourself.

Sharpe, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first team All Pro for the Packers, said he did this by studying players, coaches and loved ones.

“You have to learn how to follow before you can lead,” he said.

Eric Allen: Surround yourself with the right people

Summed up, Allen’s speech was a long list of heartfelt thank yous. He reminisced on memories with teammates and coaches, and spent much of the speech praising family. But there was something small that he said that stuck with me.

“It’s about living a full life, a life that … you want to respect everyone around you,” he said.

As he continued to credit his inner circle with much of his success, it became clearer and clearer to me — Allen, a defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, spent his career and life carefully surrounding himself with people who challenged him. People who he respected, and people who brought out the best in him.

By doing that, Allen, who is known for his 54 career interceptions, eight interception returns for touchdowns and six Pro Bowl selections, became someone others wanted to have in their lives to challenge them to be their best, too.

Antonio Gates: Embrace redirection

Gates made history Saturday by becoming the first player who never played a down of college football to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He dove into how the transition from playing college basketball at Kent State to signing with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003 took place. But what was really interesting was how the experience reframed his thinking about change.

“Switching sports, or careers for that matter, it can be life-changing,” Gates said. “The unexpected opportunities are often the most powerful ones because they can completely redirect your life — if you’re ready to take advantage and you’re ready for the opportunity.”

It took a lot of belief, from himself and others, to become the NFL’s record-holder for receiving touchdowns by a tight end (116) and an eight-time Pro Bowler. But if Gates didn’t capitalize on the unexpected opportunity that was presented to him back in 2003, he wouldn’t have known that this was something he was capable of doing.

And while the title “undrafted free agent” doesn’t always sound promising, he decided to take the chance and is now one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; Frank Jansky / Getty Images)

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