LaDainian Tomlinson

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = LaDainian Tomlinson

| image = LaDainian Tomlinson 2017 closeup.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Tomlinson in 2017

| number =

| current_team = Los Angeles Chargers

| position = Special assistant

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|6|23|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Rosebud, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 215

| high_school = University
{{nowrap|(Waco, Texas)}}

| college = TCU (1997–2000)

| draftyear = 2001

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 5

| pastteams = * San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2001|2009}})

New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2010|2011}})

| pastexecutive = * Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2017}}–present)
Special assistant

| highlights = * NFL Most Valuable Player (2006)

NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2006)
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2006)
3× First-team All-Pro (2004, 2006, 2007)
3× Second-team All-Pro (2002, 2003, 2005)
5× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004–2007)
Bart Starr Award (2008)
Bert Bell Award (2006)
2× NFL rushing yards leader (2006, 2007)
3× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2004, 2006, 2007)
NFL scoring leader ({{NFL Year|2006}})
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (2001)
Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame
Los Angeles Chargers No. 21 retired
Doak Walker Award (2000)
Jim Brown Trophy (2000)
Unanimous All-American (2000)
Second-team All-American (1999)
2× WAC Offensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000)
2× First-team All-WAC (1999, 2000)
TCU Horned Frogs No. 5 retired

; NFL records

Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 28 (2006)
Most touchdowns from scrimmage in a season: 31 (2006)
Most consecutive games with a touchdown: 18 (tied){{efn|With Lenny Moore.}}
Most points scored in a single season: 186 (2006)

| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts

| statvalue1 = 3,174

| statlabel2 = Rushing yards

| statvalue2 = 13,684

| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 145

| statlabel4 = Receptions

| statvalue4 = 624

| statlabel5 = Receiving yards

| statvalue5 = 4,772

| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue6 = 17

| pfr = T/TomlLa00

| HOF = ladainian-tomlinson

| CollegeHOF = 2370

}}

LaDainian Tarshane Tomlinson (born June 23, 1979), nicknamed "LT", is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. After a successful college football career with the TCU Horned Frogs, the San Diego Chargers selected him as the fifth overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft. He spent nine years with the Chargers, earning five Pro Bowl appearances, three Associated Press first-team All-Pro nominations, and two NFL rushing titles. Tomlinson was also voted the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2006 after breaking the record for touchdowns in a single season. He played two further seasons with the New York Jets, before retiring. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

A native of Rosebud, Texas, Tomlinson showed athletic promise while attending University High School. He was recruited by Texas Christian University (TCU). As a junior, Tomlinson rushed for 406 yards in a single game, a Division I record at the time. As a senior, he earned unanimous All-American honors, and won the Doak Walker Award as the best college running back. TCU retired his {{abbr|No.|Number}} 5 in 2005, and he was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Chargers selected Tomlinson No. 5 overall after passing on the opportunity to select highly rated quarterback Michael Vick. A starter in his rookie season, Tomlinson opened his career with the first of seven consecutive seasons with over 1,200 rushing yards, a streak achieved previously only by Eric Dickerson. He became a prolific scorer under Marty Schottenheimer, who coached the Chargers from 2002 to 2006. Tomlinson's output reached a peak in 2006, when he set numerous single-season records, including for most touchdowns scored (31). These feats won him the NFL MVP award, but San Diego suffered an upset defeat in their playoff opener, and Schottenheimer was fired shortly afterwards. Tomlinson became less central to the Charger offense in the following three seasons, and missed time through injury in key games. He was released following the 2009 season, played two seasons with the Jets, and retired.

Tomlinson was named to five Pro Bowls (2002, 2004–2007), was a first-team All-Pro three times (2004, 2006, 2007), and won consecutive rushing titles in 2006 and 2007. At the time of his retirement, he ranked fifth in career rushing yards (13,684), fifth in yards from scrimmage (18,456), second in career rushing touchdowns (145), and third in total touchdowns (162). Tomlinson also threw seven touchdown passes and ranks second behind Walter Payton (eight) for non-quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era. Tomlinson had his No. 21 retired by the Chargers in 2015 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, his first year of eligibility.

Tomlinson is often known by his initials, L.T.. He works as an analyst on the NFL Network, and also serves as a special assistant to the Chargers' principal owner, Dean Spanos.

Early life

Tomlinson was born on June 23, 1979, in Rosebud, Texas, to Loreane Chappelle and Oliver Tomlinson. His mother worked as a preacher; his father left the family when Tomlinson was seven years old. Tomlinson did not see his father very often afterward.{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Ethan |url=https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Ladainian-Tomlinson-Footballs-All-Star/dp/1404244913 |title=Meet Ladainian Tomlinson: Football's Fastest Running Back |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4042-4491-7 |page=6}} He grew up with a brother and a sister and later, also a half-sister and three half-brothers. At age nine, Tomlinson joined the Pop Warner Little Scholars football program and scored a touchdown the first time he touched the ball.{{Citation |last=Savage |first=Jeff |title=LaDainian Tomlinson |url=https://archive.org/details/ladainiantomlins0000sava/page/9/mode/1up?view=theater |pages=9–10 |year=2009 |publisher=Lerner Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-8225-9989-0 |access-date=February 23, 2023 |via=Internet Archive |url-access=registration}}

Tomlinson attended University High School in Waco, Texas, where he ran track and played basketball, baseball, and football. Tomlinson began his football career playing as both a linebacker and a fullback, but blossomed on the offensive side of the ball; he was named to the District 10–4A second-team offense as a running back.{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1995 |title=District 10-4A |page=B-11 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108495405/district-10-4a/}} Tomlinson amassed 2,554 yards and 39 touchdowns his senior year, earning honors as the District 25-4A Most Valuable Player and the Super Centex Offensive Player of the Year.{{Cite book |last=Tomlinson |first=Loreane |url=https://www.amazon.com/LT-Me-Raising-Champion-Listening/dp/1414331649 |title=LT & Me: What Raising a Champion Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Listening to Your Dreams |publisher=Tyndale House Publishers |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4143-3361-8 |page=103}}{{Citation |title=Jock Bio: LaDainian Tomlinson |url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Tomlinson/Tomlinson_bio.html |work=JockBio.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008092922/http://jockbio.com/Bios/Tomlinson/Tomlinson_bio.html |publisher=Black Book Partners |access-date=October 30, 2010 |archive-date=October 8, 2010 |url-status=dead}} He was named to the state all-star football team in 1997, which included future San Diego teammates Drew Brees (Austin Westlake) and Quentin Jammer (Angleton).{{Cite web |title=Football All-Stars |url=http://thsca.pointstreaksites.com/files/uploaded_documents/386/AS-FB_6.pdf |publisher=Texas High School Coaches Association}}

Tomlinson was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Miami Hurricanes fan during his youth. He idolized Walter Payton and admired Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, and Barry Sanders.{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jim |date=February 2, 2005 |title=Tomlinson among those shocked by Smith news |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050202/news_1s2emmitside.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821092329/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050202/news_1s2emmitside.html |archive-date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=October 30, 2010 |website=The San Diego Union-Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=Zimmerman |first=Chad |date=September 1, 2005 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson's Off-Season Training Plan |url=http://magazine.stack.com/TheIssue/Article/1910/LaDainian_Tomlinsons_OffSeason_Training_Plan.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018163011/http://magazine.stack.com/TheIssue/Article/1910/LaDainian_Tomlinsons_OffSeason_Training_Plan.aspx |archive-date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=October 30, 2010 |website=Magazine.Stack.com |publisher=Stack}} Tomlinson was able to meet Smith while attending a camp run by Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek.

College career

Tomlinson accepted an athletic scholarship at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, then a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). He played for the TCU Horned Frogs from 1997 to 2000. Before Tomlinson's arrival, TCU had appeared in only one bowl game in the previous 12 seasons and two in the previous 31, losing both.{{Cite web |title=TCU Horned Frogs Football Record By Year |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/texas-christian/index.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} They had recently been downgraded to a minor conference (the WAC) after the breakup of the Southwest Conference.{{Cite news |last=Hicks |first=Phil |date=August 18, 2001 |title=Horned Frogs ready for WAC |page=III-1 |work=Tyler Courier-Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108532038/change-of-conference/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

{{quote box|align=left|width=30%|style=padding:10px|quote="What have we been playing college football, a hundred-and-something years and nobody has even been able to do what he did today."|source=—TCU head coach Dennis Franchione reacting to Tomlinson's record-breaking 406-yard performance against UTEP.}}

During Tomlinson's freshman and sophomore years, he split time with Basil Mitchell and other backs, while the Horned Frog posted records of 1–10 and 6–5.{{Cite web |title=1997 TCU Horned Frogs Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/texas-christian/1997-schedule.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1998 TCU Horned Frogs Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/texas-christian/1998-schedule.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} The latter of these seasons finished with TCU's first bowl win in 42 years against the USC Trojans in the Sun Bowl,{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2001 |title=TCU runs hot and cold in bowls |url=http://static.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls01/s/gallery_tcubowl.html |access-date=July 30, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}}{{Cite web |title=TCU Horned Frogs Bowls |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/texas-christian/bowls.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} though Tomlinson only rushed for 34 yards in the game (Mitchell had 185 yards and two touchdowns).{{Cite news |date=August 29, 2022 |title=Individual statistics |page=10D |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108532551/sun-bowl-stats/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson was promoted to the starting running back role during his junior season, responding with 1,850 yards and 18 touchdowns as the Horned Frogs improved to 7–4. On November 20, he set an NCAA Division I record for most rushing yards in a game with a 43-carry, 406-yard, 6-touchdown performance against UTEP.{{Cite news |last=Garcia |first=Arthur |date=November 21, 1999 |title=No stopping him |pages=1CC, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108533079/lt-406-yards/ 4CC] |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108532807/lt-406-yards/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{efn|The record stood until 2014, when it was broken in consecutive weeks by Melvin Gordon (408 yards) and Samaje Perine (427 yards).{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2014 |title=Melvin Gordon sets FBS rushing record with 408 yards vs. Huskers |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400547974 |access-date=November 15, 2014 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2014 |title=Oklahoma's Samaje Perine breaks FBS rushing record with 427 yards |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/11/22/oklahomas-perine-breaks-fbs-rushing-record/19410367/ |access-date=August 1, 2021 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}}} TCU ended the season with a 28–14 win against East Carolina in the 1999 Mobile Alabama Bowl.{{Cite news |date=December 23, 1999 |title=TCU handles Pirates, 28–14 |page=11A |work=Paris News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108533483/2nd-bowl-win/ |via=Newspapers.com}} His 20 rushing touchdowns were tied for the NCAA lead with Ron Dayne. He finished second in the NCAA in rushing to Dayne with 1,974 rushing yards.{{Cite web |title=1999 Leaders |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1999-leaders.html |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-WAC for the 1999 season.{{Cite news |date=December 1, 1999 |title=Rainbows, Bulldogs top All-WAC teams |page=14 |work=Hawaii Tribune-Herald |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108540578/99-honors/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson's senior season was one of great consistency. He went over 100 rushing yards and scored at least one touchdown in every game. He started his senior campaign with 24 carries for 176 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in a 41–10 victory over Nevada.{{Cite web |title=Texas Christian at Nevada Box Score, September 9, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-09-09-nevada.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} In the following game against Northwestern, he had 39 carries for 243 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 41–14 victory.{{Cite web |title=Northwestern at Texas Christian Box Score, September 16, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-09-16-texas-christian.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} In the following game, a 52–3 victory over Arkansas State, he had 23 carries for 140 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Arkansas State at Texas Christian Box Score, September 23, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-09-23-texas-christian.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} TCU ended September with a perfect 4–0 mark with a 24–0 victory over Navy where Tomlinson had 33 carries for 121 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Texas Christian at Navy Box Score, September 30, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-09-30-navy.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} To start off October, Tomlinson had his best game of the season to that point with 49 carries for 294 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in a 41–21 victory over Hawaii.{{Cite web |title=Hawaii at Texas Christian Box Score, October 7, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-10-07-texas-christian.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} In the next game, against Tulsa, he had 27 carries for 119 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the 17–3 victory.{{Cite web |title=Texas Christian at Tulsa Box Score, October 21, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-10-21-tulsa.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} In the following game against Rice, he had 41 carries for 200 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 37–0 victory.{{Cite web |title=Rice at Texas Christian Box Score, October 28, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-10-28-texas-christian.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} The victory over Rice marked a perfect October and a 7–0 start for TCU. The undefeated Horned Frogs reached a No. 9 ranking in the AP Poll, their highest since 1959.{{Cite web |title=TCU Horned Frogs AP Poll History |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/texas-christian/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} TCU dropped their first game of the season in the following game against San Jose State. Tomlinson had 32 carries for 155 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 27–24 loss to the Spartans.{{Cite web |title=Texas Christian at San Jose State Box Score, November 4, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-11-04-san-jose-state.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} In the next game against Fresno State, he had 42 carries for 231 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the 24–7 victory.{{Cite web |title=Fresno State at Texas Christian Box Score, November 11, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-11-11-texas-christian.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} In the following game against UTEP, Tomlinson rushed 33 times for 305 yards and three touchdowns in the 47–14 victory.{{Cite news |date=November 19, 2000 |title=Frog's Tomlinson tears up UTEP |page=D5 |work=Austin American-Statesman |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108541966/lt-305-yards/ |via=Newspapers.com}} TCU closed out their regular season with a 62–7 victory over SMU, where Tomlinson had 26 carries for 174 rushing yard and one rushing touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Texas Christian at SMU Box Score, November 24, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-11-24-southern-methodist.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} In the 2000 season, TCU again improved their record, going 10–1 and qualifying for their second consecutive Mobile Alabama Bowl.{{Cite web |title=Mobile Alabama Bowl – Texas Christian vs Southern Mississippi Box Score, December 20, 2000 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2000-12-20-southern-mississippi.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2000 TCU Horned Frogs Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/texas-christian/2000-schedule.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} He led the NCAA for the second time with 2,158 yards and 22 touchdowns,{{Cite news |last=Hawkins |first=Stephen |date=December 5, 2000 |title=TCU back Tomlinson among Heisman Trophy candidates |page=4B |work=McAllen Monitor |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108542585/tomlinson-heisman/ |via=Newspapers.com}} adding 28 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns in his final game with TCU,{{Cite news |date=December 21, 2000 |title=Individual statistics |page=10D |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108542949/bowl-3-stats/}} a 28–21 defeat in the Mobile Alabama Bowl.{{Cite news |date=December 21, 2000 |title=Southern Miss slips past TCU |page=1B |work=Marshall News-Messenger |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108543369/mobile-bowl/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.{{Cite web |title=Award winners |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Awards.pdf |access-date=August 29, 2022 |website=ncaa.org}} He won the Doak Walker Award and the Jim Brown Trophy as the nation's best running back,{{Cite news |date=December 20, 2000 |title=TCU scouting report |page=C8 |work=Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108545723/doak-walker/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and was a finalist for the 2000 Heisman Trophy, but came in fourth in the voting.{{Cite web |title=2000 Heisman Trophy Voting |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-2000.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}} Tomlinson also repeated as WAC Offensive Player of the Year and as an All-WAC first-team selection.{{Cite news |date=December 20, 2000 |title=Bowl blitz |page=2H |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108547759/wac-awards/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=WAC Offensive Player of the Year Winners |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/wac-opoy.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}}

Tomlinson completed his career at TCU with 5,263 rushing yards, ranking sixth in NCAA Division I history at the time.{{Cite news |date=December 21, 2000 |title=LT by the numbers |page=11D |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108546997/lt-college-career/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He had one more game before becoming a professional, taking part in the 2001 Senior Bowl on January 21. Tomlinson rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for a further 28 yards, earning the game's MVP award and helping the South beat the North 21–16.{{Cite news |date=January 21, 2001 |title=Tomlinson MVP at Senior Bowl |page=6C |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108549252/senior-bowl-mvp/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

TCU retired his No. 5 during halftime of a November 2005 game against UNLV.[http://www.magazine.tcu.edu/articles/2006-03-CV.asp?issueid=200603 Our All-Time Numbers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211213312/http://www.magazine.tcu.edu/articles/2006-03-CV.asp?issueid=200603 |date=December 11, 2006 }} from TCU Magazine, obtained December 18, 2006. He was their single-game, single-season, and career record holder in both rushing touchdowns and rushing yards, amongst other records.{{Cite book |url=https://gofrogs.com/documents/2018/7/31//06_mg_section_7.pdf?id=3879 |title=TCU: 2006 Football |date=2006 |publisher=Texas Christian University |page=123 |chapter=7: Record Book |format=PDF |access-date=August 29, 2022}} In December of that year, Tomlinson fulfilled a promise to his mother by earning his degree in communications from TCU.{{Cite web |last=Mauch |first=Rick |date=July 28, 2017 |title=Hall of Fame: TCU running back Tomlinson headed to Canton |url=https://fortworthbusiness.com/entertainment/hall-of-fame-tcu-running-back-tomlinson-headed-to-canton/ |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Fort Worth Business Press |language=en-US}} He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 9, 2014.{{Cite news |last=McMurphy |first=Brett |date=May 22, 2014 |title=College Football HOF reveals class |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/10969541/derrick-thomas-ladainian-tomlinson-part-college-football-hall-fame-class |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523013036/http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10969541/derrick-thomas-ladainian-tomlinson-part-college-football-hall-fame-class |archive-date=May 23, 2014}}

= College statistics =

rowspan="2"\| Season ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! rowspan="2"\| GP ! colspan="4"\| Rushing ! colspan="3"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
1997	TCU \| 11 \|\| 126 \|\| 538 \|\| 4.3 \|\| 6 \|\| 11 \|\| 109 \|\| 0
1998{{efn\|Not including bowl stats: 12 carries, 34 yards; 1 reception, 25 yards.}}	TCU \| 11 \|\| 144 \|\| 717 \|\| 5.0 \|\| 8 \|\| 6 \|\| 34 \|\| 0
1999{{efn\|Not including bowl stats: 36 carries, 124 yards, 2 touchdowns; 4 receptions, 29 yards.{{Cite news \|date=December 23, 1999 \|title=TCU 28, E. Carolina 14 \|page=B2 \|work=Galveston Daily News \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108538346/second-bowl-stats/ \|via=Newspapers.com}}}}	TCU \| 11 \|\| 268 \|\| 1,850 \|\| 6.9 \|\| 18 \|\| 12 \|\| 55 \|\| 0
2000{{efn\|Not including bowl stats: 28 carries, 118 yards, 2 touchdowns.}}	TCU \| 11 \|\| 369 \|\| 2,158 \|\| 5.8 \|\| 22 \|\| 10 \|\| 40 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\| Totals{{Cite web \|title=LaDainian Tomlinson College Stats \|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ladainian-tomlinson-1.html \|access-date=November 23, 2022 \|website=Sports Reference.com \|language=en}}{{efn\|Bowl games not included, but noted separately in the Season column. College football did not include statistics from these until 2002.{{Cite web \|date=August 28, 2002 \|title=NCAA changes policy on football stats \|url=https://a.espncdn.com/ncf/news/2002/0828/1423821.html \|access-date=August 29, 2022 \|website=ESPN.com \|agency=Associated Press}}}} \|\| 44 \|\| 907 \|\| 5,263 \|\| 5.8 \|\| 54 \|\| 39 \|\| 238 \|\| 0

=College awards and honors=

Consensus first-team All-American (2000){{Cite web |title=Consensus All-America Teams (2000–2009) |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/all-america-2000-2009.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}}
Doak Walker Award (2000){{Cite web |title=Doak Walker Award Winners |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/walker.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Sports Reference.com |language=en}}
Jim Brown Trophy (2000){{Cite web |last=Dodson |first=Dee |date=February 23, 2016 |title=2011 Alumni Awards – LaDainian Tomlinson |url=https://magazine.tcu.edu/summer-2011/2011-alumni-awards-ladainian-tomlinson-05/ |access-date=August 29, 2022 |website=TCU Magazine}}
2x All-WAC First-team (1999–2000)
2x WAC Offensive Player Of the Year (1999–2000)
Mobile Alabama Bowl Most Valuable Player (2000){{Cite news |last=Reeves |first=Jim |date=December 21, 2000 |title=Frogs leave nothing but question marks |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108546294/lt-mobile-bowl-mvp/ 11D] |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108546519/lt-mobile-bowl-mvp/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player (2001)
College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2014)

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 10 1/4

| weight = 221

| dash = 4.46

| ten split = 1.54

| twenty split = 2.59

| shuttle = 4.21

| cone drill = 6.84

| vertical = 40.5

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 4

| bench = 18

| arm span = 31

| hand span = 9

| wonderlic = 13

| note = All values from the NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson, Texas Christian, RB, 2001 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1855&DraftYear=2001 |access-date=July 18, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson Combine Results RB – Texas Christian |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=5820 |access-date=July 18, 2021 |website=nflcombineresults.com}}{{Cite news |title=Liccing My Wounds |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2001/04/23/liccing-my-wounds |access-date=July 18, 2021 |newspaper=Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com}}

}}

=2001 NFL draft=

After a 1–15 record in 2000, the San Diego Chargers had the first pick in the 2001 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2000 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2000.htm |access-date=September 1, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Quarterback was a weakness, with 1998 first-round pick Ryan Leaf considered a draft bust as he was cut after three unsuccessful seasons;{{Cite news |last=Scholfield |first=Steve |date=March 1, 2001 |title=Chargers finally dump meathead |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108472274/leaf-cut/ C-6] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108472471/leaf-cut/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Charger quarterbacks had combined for a league-high 30 interceptions in 2000.{{Cite web |title=2000 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2000/index.htm |access-date=September 1, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} However, running back was also an area of need,{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=February 18, 2000 |title=Chargers contemplate future with or without Leaf |page=6S |work=Great Falls Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108471795/draft-needs/ |via=Newspapers.com}} with their team total of 1,062 yards the fewest recorded in a 16-game season.{{Cite web |title=Fewest rushing yards, team, season |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/cNtHH |access-date=August 28, 2022 |website=stathead.com |via=Newspapers.com}} They were expected to use the No. 1 pick on quarterback Michael Vick,{{Cite news |last=Norwood |first=Robyn |date=April 20, 2001 |title=Now everything seems to be up in air |page=D4 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108474001/chargers-vick-negotiations/ |via=Newspapers.com}} but preliminary contract negotiations with the player broke down, and general manager John Butler instead accepted a trade offer from the Atlanta Falcons; the Chargers' first-round pick (No. 1 overall) was exchanged for Atlanta's first-round pick (No. 5 overall), as well as their third-round pick in 2001, their second-round pick in 2002, and wide receiver/kick returner Tim Dwight.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=April 21, 2001 |title=Vick not the pick for SD Chargers |pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108474580/chargers-trade-vick-pick/ A-4] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108474458/chargers-trade-vick-pick/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=September 1, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

San Diego had shown interest in Tomlinson even before the trade with Atlanta.{{Cite news |last=Shappell |first=Lee |date=April 20, 2001 |title=Charges may pass on Vick |page=C6 |work=Arizona Republic |url=http://www.sportable.com/2007/08/04/what-ifmichael-vick-and-ladainian-tomlinson-werent-traded/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716121146/http://www.sportable.com/2007/08/04/what-ifmichael-vick-and-ladainian-tomlinson-werent-traded/ |archive-date=July 16, 2011}} They selected him fifth overall, after the Cleveland Browns (picking third, and potentially interested in a running back) chose Gerard Warren instead.{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Dave |date=April 22, 2001 |title=Atlanta's new bird |page=3B |work=Chillicothe Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108480489/gerard-warren/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Instead of Vick, San Diego selected Drew Brees in the second round as their future quarterback.{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Mike |date=April 22, 2001 |title=First day of draft a Brees for San Diego |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108480169/lt-and-brees/ C-6] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108479676/lt-and-brees/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Chargers head coach Mike Riley stated that Tomlinson was the player the team had wanted after they'd made the trade. Tomlinson himself expressed relief at being passed on by the Browns. Of joining a one-win team, he said, "At TCU my freshman year, we were 1–10. I know what it takes to rebuild a program."{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=August 22, 2001 |title=Bolts get their man in TCU's Tomlinson |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108478694/lt-drafted/ C-6] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108479093/lt-drafted/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

= San Diego Chargers =

File:LaDainian Tomlinson-Aug-2-08-Practice.jpg

== 2001 season ==

Tomlinson was a holdout through much of training camp, while his agent Tom Condon negotiated with the Chargers.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=July 31, 2001 |title=Rookies playing hooky |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106987216/tomlinson-holdout-i/ C-2] |work=Temecula Californian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106987252/tomlinson-holdout-i/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He eventually signed a six-year, $38 million contract on August 21.{{Cite news |date=August 22, 2001 |title=Tomlinson agrees with Chargers, Cowboys cut tight end LaFleur |page=11 |work=Greenwood Commonwealth |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106987496/tomlinson-holdout-ii/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He had missed the first two preseason games, and was kept on the bench for the third,{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=August 24, 2001 |title=Tomlinson finally punches the clock |page=C-5 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106987783/holdout-iii/ |via=Newspapers.com}} before featuring briefly in the final game, rushing five times for 14 yards in a defeat to the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite news |last=Baum |first=Bob |date=September 1, 2001 |title=Cards ruin Tomlinson's debut, defense too much for Chargers |page=C6 |work=Arizona Daily Star |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106987671/preseason-finale/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

On September 9, Tomlinson made his regular season debut in a 30–3 victory over the Washington Redskins. He was immediately given a heavy workload, carrying 36 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the 30–3 victory.{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Tony |date=September 10, 2001 |title=Chargers get it right on first try this time |page=D8 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105546785/chargers-30-3-washington-10-sep-2001/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The 36 carries were tied for the third-most in franchise history up to that point,{{Cite web |title=Most carries, game, Chargers, through 2001 |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/Ogpzx |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=stathead.com}} while the 113 yards were a new record for a Charger in his first career game.{{Cite web |title=Most rushing yards, first career game, Chargers |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/S2yoP |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=stathead.com}} Tomlinson followed this by rushing for 90, 107, and 102 yards in the following three games.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2001 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2001/ |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He added four more touchdowns; in a week 3 win against the Cincinnati Bengals, he posted the first three-touchdown game by a Charger running back since Natrone Means in 1994.{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers – September 30th, 2001 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200109300sdg.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Four games into his career, Tomlinson was the league leader in both rushing yards with 412 and rushing touchdowns with six, and had already surpassed the 384 yards with which third-down back Terrell Fletcher led the team the previous season.{{Cite news |date=October 14, 2001 |title=When the Chargers run |page=C6 |work=Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105735004/tomlinson-passes-fletcher-14-oct-2001/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson's pace slowed during the remaining twelve weeks of the season, with only four more touchdowns and one more 100-yard rushing game, which came in week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – December 23rd, 2001 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200112230kan.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Nonetheless, his total of 1,236 was the second-most in franchise history, behind only Means in 1994; with a further 367 receiving yards, Tomlinson had 1,603 yards from scrimmage, breaking the franchise record that Lance Alworth had set in 1965.{{Cite web |title=Chargers Single Season Scrimmage Yards Leaders |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/chargers-single-season-scrimmage-yards-leaders |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=StatMuse |language=en}} San Diego finished the season with a nine-game losing streak and a 5–11 record.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers 2001 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2001/gamelog/ |access-date=September 1, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson said of breaking Alworth's record, "It means a lot to me and the people who helped me get it. But I just wish I could have gotten it in a winning season when it means more."{{Cite news |last=Mullins |first=Steve |date=December 31, 2001 |title=Tomlinson scampers past 'Bambi' |page=C-3 |work=Temecula Californian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106989804/tomlinson-alworth/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

League-wide, Tomlinson finished ninth for rushing yards and tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns. However, his yards per carry of 3.6 was only 31st among players with at least 100 carries, and his eight fumbles, one of which was returned for a key touchdown in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles,{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 10, 2001 |title=Chargers' season deep-sixed |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105971177/chargers-14-24-eagles-10-dec-2001/ C-3] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105970992/chargers-14-24-eagles-10-dec-2001/ |via=Newspapers.com}} were joint-most among non-quarterbacks.{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/rushing.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson led the league in touches (rushing attempts and receptions combined) with 398, and ranked ninth for yards from scrimmage.{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Scrimmage Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/scrimmage.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He received 16 votes for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award, finishing second to Anthony Thomas (22 votes).{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2002 |title=A-Train gets offensive rookie honors |page=4B |work=Salinas Californian |agency=Wire reports |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106994383/roty/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Thomas and Tomlinson were the two running backs named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.{{Cite news |last=Schleiden |first=Keith |date=January 25, 2002 |title=2001 All-Rookie team |page=PFTW-2 |work=McAllen Monitor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108557209/all-rookie-2001/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

== 2002 season ==

A day after their final game of 2001, the Chargers fired head coach Mike Riley,{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 1, 2002 |title=Chargers fire Riley |page=C1 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106998044/riley-out/ |via=Newspapers.com}} replacing him with Marty Schottenheimer, recently dismissed as Washington's head coach.{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2002 |title=San Diego gets its Marty |page=B9 |work=Toronto National Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106998358/marty-in/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Schottenheimer brought with him a reputation for favoring the running game over the pass.{{Cite news |last=Brandner |first=Eric |date=July 21, 2002 |title=Spurrier searches for a quarterback |page=J15 |work=Carlisle Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107000028/martyball-i/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |date=April 22, 2002 |title=Team-by-team draft breakdown |page=7C |work=Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107000351/martyball-ii/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson said of his new coach, "I think he knows how to win, and he's been doing it for a number of years. ... I think that is the kind of coach that we need."{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=April 6, 2002 |title=Bolts get their first taste of playing for Schottenheimer |page=C-5 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106999136/marty-in/ |via=Newspapers.com}} At his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech in 2017, Tomlinson would describe Schottenheimer as the best coach he ever had.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson – Class of 2017 |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/ladainian-tomlinson/ |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame}}

Tomlinson tied or broke numerous franchise records during the season. Tomlinson started the season strong with 21 carries for 114 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with three receptions for 45 receiving yards in the 34–6 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals – September 8th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200209080cin.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In week 4, he had 27 carries for 217 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a 21–14 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, tying Gary Anderson for the most yards in a single game by a Charger.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=September 20, 2002 |title=Bolts are nobody's patsy |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106309164/chargers-21-14-patriots-30-sep-2002/ C-4] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106308852/chargers-21-14-patriots-30-sep-2002/ |via=Newspapers.com}} For his game against the Patriots, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.{{Cite web |title=New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers – September 29th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200209290sdg.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL week 4 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/week_4.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In week 7, he tied Marion Butts's record with 39 carries in a game, rushing for 153 yards and scoring the winning touchdown as San Diego beat the eventual AFC champion Oakland Raiders 27–21 in overtime.{{Cite news |date=October 22, 2002 |title=Charged up |page=3D |work=Carbondale Southern Illinoisan |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107002937/carries/ |via=Newspapers.com}} With five catches in the same game, he had 44 touches in total, breaking another Means record.{{Cite web |title=Chargers with 40+ touches, game |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/CfxV8 |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}

{{quote box|align=right|width=30%|style=padding:10px|quote="There is no question that a number of those runs, including that long one in the first half, was the product of his determination and heart that he isn't going on the ground."|source=—Marty Schottenheimer reacting to Tomlinson's 48-touch, 271-yard performance against Denver.}}

In week 13, Tomlinson had 37 carries for 220 yards and three touchdowns, as well as 11 catches for 51 yards, helping San Diego beat the Denver Broncos in overtime. He had the longest run of his career to that point one play after Denver had taken a 10–0 lead, going for 76 yards and setting up his first touchdown. Tomlinson's rushing yardage broke the record he had tied in week 4,{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 2, 2002 |title=Bolts boot Broncos out of first |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106766505/chargers-30-27-broncos-2-dec-2002/ C-3] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106766365/chargers-30-27-broncos-2-dec-2002/ |via=Newspapers.com}} while his 271 yards from scrimmage broke Wes Chandler's Charger record for a regular season game.{{efn|Keith Lincoln had 329 yards in a postseason game, the 1963 AFL Championship Game.{{Cite web |title=Most yards from scrimmage, game, Chargers |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/emwD4 |access-date=August 1, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}}} With 48 touches, he broke the franchise record he had set in week 7 and also tied James Wilder's NFL record.{{Cite web |title=NFL Touches Single Game Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/touches_single_game.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Denver had entered the game with the league's top-ranked run defense.{{Cite news |last=Hiro |first=Brian |date=December 2, 2002 |title=Tomlinson continues to amaze |page=C-4 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107008333/records-versus-denver/ |via=Newspapers.com}} For his game against the Broncos, he earned his second AFC Offensive Player of the Week nomination.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – December 1st, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200212010sdg.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL week 13 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/week_13.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

San Diego was 8–4 after beating the Broncos, but lost their last four in a row to miss the playoffs.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 30, 2002 |title=No joke: another choke |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106941167/chargers-28-31-seahawks-30-dec-2002/ C-3] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106941309/chargers-28-31-seahawks-30-dec-2002/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson nonetheless passed Means' franchise record for rushing yardage in a season with three games still to play,{{Cite news |last=Hiro |first=Brian |date=December 9, 2002 |title=L.T.'s team record doesn't come easy |page=C-3 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107010840/tomlinson-passes-means/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and finished with 1,683 yards,{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00.htm |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} second-most in the league.{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/rushing.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} His yards per carry improved by almost a full yard, to 4.5, while his 14 rushing touchdowns were another franchise record.{{Cite web |title=Most rushing touchdowns, season, Chargers |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/qCr3S |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} As well as his rushing feats, Tomlinson also tied Ronnie Harmon's Charger record for receptions by a running back, with 79.{{Cite news |last=Hiro |first=Brian |date=December 30, 2002 |title=Tomlinson short of rushing crown |page=C-2 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107014522/tying-harmon/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He again led the league in touches with 451, which proved to be a career-high; it was also the third-most in NFL history at the time.{{Cite web |title=NFL Single-Season Touches Leaders Through 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/touches_single_season_2002.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson became the first Charger to gain 2,000-plus yards from scrimmage,{{Cite web |title=2,000+ yards from scrimmage in a season, Chargers |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/vtqVE |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=stathead.com}} with his total of 2,172 ranking third in the league.{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Scrimmage Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/scrimmage.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He also improved his ball security, fumbling only three times.

Tomlinson was rewarded for his performances with his first Pro Bowl nomination (together with Junior Seau, he was one of only two Chargers so honored),{{Cite news |date=December 20, 2002 |title=Bolting for the Pro Bowl |page=C-1 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107018534/2002-pro-bowl/ |via=Newspapers.com}} as well as being named an Associated Press (AP) 2nd-team All-Pro.{{Cite news |date=January 5, 2003 |title=2002 AP All-Pro team list |page=B2 |work=Staunton Daily News Leader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107015377/2003-ap-all-pro/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

== 2003 season ==

{{multiple image

| total_width = 284

| image1 = MartySchottenheimer8-15-2013.jpg

| alt1 = Picture of Marty Schottenheimer

| image2 = Lorenzo Neal (cropped) II.jpg

| alt2 = Picture of Lorenzo Neal

| footer = Tomlinson had some of his most productive years under the leadership of head coach Marty Schottenheimer (left) and behind the blocking of fullback Lorenzo Neal (right).

}}

During the 2003 offseason, San Diego signed Lorenzo Neal, a fullback who had blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in each of his previous six seasons, and was coming off his first Pro Bowl nomination.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=March 1, 2003 |title=Neal inks with Bolts |page=C-3 |work=Temecula Californian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107054899/neal-in/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson would later describe Neal as vital to the progression of his career, and chose the fullback to introduce him on the day of his induction into the Hall of Fame.{{Cite magazine |date=August 5, 2017 |title=Lorenzo Neal: "Humbled, surprised" to introduce L.T. |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/talkoffame/nfl/lorenzo-neal-humbled-surprised-to-introduce-l-t |access-date=August 6, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

The Chargers struggled throughout the 2003 season, finishing 4–12.{{Cite web |title=2003 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2003.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Nonetheless, Tomlinson continued to produce strong individual performances. In week 4, he threw the first touchdown pass of his career, a 21-yard throw to Brees, on a trick play, as well as rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Oakland Raiders.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=September 29, 2003 |title=Four! Chargers not up to par vs. Raiders |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107073082/chargers-31-34-raiders/ C-3] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107072911/chargers-31-34-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, he rushed 26 times for 200 yards and a touchdown while leading the Chargers to their first win of the year;{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=October 20, 2002 |title=It's about Dawg-gone time |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107024792/chargers-26-20-browns/ C-3] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107025095/chargers-26-20-browns/ |via=Newspapers.com}} in total, Tomlinson accounted for 221 of the Chargers' 289 yards in the 26–20 victory.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns – October 19th, 2003 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200310190cle.htm |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He was named AFC Offensive Player of the week for his game against the Browns.{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL week 7 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/week_7.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In week 10, against the Minnesota Vikings, he had 16 carries for 162 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 42–28 victory.{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers – November 9th, 2003 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200311090sdg.htm |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} The top two receiving performances of his career (measured by yards) arrived back-to-back in weeks 14 and 15;{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson Career Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/ |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} he had nine catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns against the Detroit Lions,{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 8, 2003 |title=Barry, Barry good |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107026428/chargers-14-7-lions/ C-4] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107026607/chargers-14-7-lions/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and 11 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 15, 2003 |title=Favre carves up Bolts |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107027399/chargers-21-38-packers/ C-3] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107026874/chargers-21-38-packers/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson entered the regular season finale against the Raiders needing eight more catches to become the first NFL player to have 1,000 rushing yards and 100 receptions in the same season. He achieved this, getting his 100th catch on the Chargers' final offensive play of the game (excluding quarterback kneels).{{Cite web |title=Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers |url=https://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/26571/SD_Gamebook.pdf |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=NFL.com |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213103127/https://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/26571/SD_Gamebook.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{efn|This feat has since been replicated by other players. Matt Forte was the next, in 2014.{{Cite web |title=Players with 1,000+ yards and 100+ receptions in a season |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/z2q8F |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}}} In the same game, he improved upon his franchise record with 243 yards from 31 carries, with two touchdowns.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 29, 2003 |title=Bottoms up for Bolts |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107061086/chargers-21-14-raiders/ C-4] |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107059142/chargers-21-14-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} This would remain Tomlinson's career high.

Tomlinson finished with 1,645 rushing yards, third-most in the league.{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/rushing.htm |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He averaged 5.3 yards per carry, the sixth-highest among backs with 100-plus carries; this would be the best average of his career. His receiving numbers were career highs: 100 receptions, 725 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns. The 100 receptions placed him fourth in the league; the rest of the top ten were all wide receivers.{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/receiving.htm |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He broke Tony Martin's franchise record of 90 receptions in 1995.{{efn|Keenan Allen broke Tomlinson's record in 2017.{{Cite web |title=90+ reception seasons, Chargers |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/cjQWo |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}}} Tomlinson had 2,370 yards from scrimmage, leading the league;{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL scrimmage stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/scrimmage.htm |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} it was the second-highest total in NFL history up to that point.{{efn|Marshall Faulk had 2,429 yards in 1999.{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 29, 2003 |title=Tomlinson's big season |page=C-4 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107063982/2003-numbers/ |via=Newspapers.com}}}} He had five games with at least 200 yards from scrimmage during the season, another league record.{{Cite web |title=Most 200+ yard games, season |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/OOejU |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=stathead.com}} Tomlinson scored 17 total touchdowns, tied for third in the league and another new career high.{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL Scoring Summary |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/scoring.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

Tomlinson was not voted to the Pro Bowl in 2003, which was seen as a snub by multiple observers; Tomlinson himself expressed disappointment, saying, "I think all those guys deserve to be there, but are they better than me? Nope."{{Cite news |last=Tomlinson |first=Dylan B. |date=December 26, 2003 |title=Rams rise to top of NFC |page=10 |work=Appleton Post-Crescent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107065727/snub-i/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Dave |date=December 19, 2003 |title=Big teams get small nods |page=C6 |work=Passaic Herald-News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107065944/snub-ii/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 19, 2003 |title=L.T., Chargers snubbed |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107066501/snub-iii/ C-4] |work=Temecula Californian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107066601/sunb-iii/ |via=Newspapers.com}} However, he was named a Second-team Associated Press All-Pro for the second season in a row,{{Cite news |date=January 6, 2004 |title=AP All-Pro team |page=2D |work=Pensacola News Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107068104/2003-all-pros/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and was runner-up to Jamal Lewis for the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award with eight votes.{{Cite news |last=Ginsberg |first=David |date=January 1, 2004 |title=Jamal Lewis now expects to run for 2,000 yards |page=C-3 |work=Bridgewater Courier-News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107069389/poty/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=2003 Awards Voting |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_2003.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

== 2004 season ==

On August 14, Tomlinson signed an eight-year contract worth $60 million, with $21 million guaranteed. It was the richest contract for a running back up to that point.{{Cite news |date=August 15, 2004 |title=LT signs record-breaking contract |page=B5 |work=Santa Clarita Signal |agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107117278/new-contract/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson scored consistently throughout the season, with either one or two touchdowns in fourteen games, including a twelve-game streak from weeks 4 to 16.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2004 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=August 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He again had a big performance against the Oakland Raiders, rushing 37 times for 164 yards and a touchdown during a 23–17 victory in week 10.{{Cite news |date=November 22, 2004 |title=Raiders better this time but lose again to Chargers |page=7CC |work=Palm Beach Post |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107114864/chargers-23-17-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} San Diego clinched the AFC West division in week 15, with a 21–0 win in the snow over the Cleveland Browns; it was their first playoff berth since 1995, ending an eight-year drought.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns – December 19th, 2004 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200412190cle.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Chargers Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/playoffs.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson, who rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the game, said, "I've only been here four years, but in some ways it feels like eight. To go from where we were to this is awesome. I've dreamed of the playoffs for a long time, but it's only been a dream."

Tomlinson's yardage numbers were down from the previous season, with 1,335 rushing (7th in the league){{Cite web |title=2004 NFL rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/rushing.htm |website=Pro Football Reference}} and 441 receiving, in part because he was rested in the regular season finale,{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 3, 2005 |title=Chargers JV's prevail |page=B1 |work=Lompoc Record |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107115229/chargers-24-17-chiefs/ |via=Newspapers.com}} though his yards per carry dropped significantly to 3.9, and he had barely half as many receptions with 53. However, he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for the first time with 17. His 1,776 scrimmage yards were tied for fifth in the league, while his 18 total touchdowns ranked second.{{Cite web |title=2004 NFL scrimmage stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/scrimmage.htm |access-date=August 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} Tomlinson earned his second Pro Bowl nomination, and rewarded his offensive line with an expenses-paid trip to Hawaii, the site of the game.{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2004 |title=Tomlinson decides to take linemen to Hawaii |page=C3 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107116820/2004-pro-bowl/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He was voted Associated Press First-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.{{Cite news |date=January 7, 2005 |title=Manning is top choice for All-Pro team |page=5A |work=Tulare Advance-Register |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107117126/all-pro-2004/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson's first playoff experience came in 2004.{{Cite news |last=Wither |first=Tom |date=December 20, 2004 |title=Shock to the system |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107096359/chargers-21-0-browns/ C9] |work=Ventura County Star |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107096713/chargers-21-0-browns/ |via=Newspapers.com}} San Diego hosted the New York Jets in the first round of the playoffs, losing 20–17 in overtime.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 9, 2005 |title=Jets dodge Chargers' comeback |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107130002/chargers-17-20-jets/ C-3] |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107130251/chargers-17-20-jets/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson rushed 26 times for 80 yards, and caught nine passes for 53 yards, scoring no touchdowns. During the sudden-death overtime period, San Diego gained a first down at the New York 22; Tomlinson ran three times for no gain before rookie kicker Nate Kaeding came in for a game-winning field goal attempt. Kaeding missed wide right, and New York drove for the winning points.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – New York Jets at San Diego Chargers – January 8th, 2005 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200501080sdg.htm |access-date=August 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} Schottenheimer was criticized after the game for playing too conservatively with the three Tomlinson runs.{{Cite news |last=Lassen |first=David |date=January 10, 2005 |title=Schottenheimer's critics off the mark |page=C6 |work=Ventura County Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107129188/marty-criticized/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

== 2005 season ==

Tomlinson began the 2005 season on a regular season twelve-game streak of scoring at least one rushing touchdown, one short of the NFL record held by John Riggins and George Rogers.{{Cite news |last=Bannon |first=Terry |date=September 11, 2005 |title=Week 1 preview |page=B-7 |work=Santa Fe New Mexican |agency=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107212008/streak-preview/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{efn|Tomlinson's failure to score during week 17 of the 2004 season did not end the streak, as he was inactive for the game.{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2005 |title=Moore's record tied by Tomlinson |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2005/10/news-moore-s-record-tied-by-tomlinson/ |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame}}}} He tied and later broke the record in the first two weeks of the season, though the Chargers lost both games.{{Cite news |date=September 12, 2005 |title=Sweet reunion for Dallas |page=C-8 |work=Modesto Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107214438/chargers-24-28-cowboys/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Pells |first=Eddie |date=September 19, 2005 |title=Bailey's big play sparks Broncos' comeback win |page=C-7 |work=Modesto Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107214918/chargers-17-20-broncos/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 3, Tomlinson rushed 21 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns and threw a 26-yard touchdown to Keenan McCardell as San Diego defeated the New York Giants 45–23.{{Cite news |last=Altavilla |first=John |date=September 26, 2005 |title=A jolt from the Bolts |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107217034/chargers-45-23-giants/ C9] |work=Hartford Courant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107216755/chargers-45-23-giants/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Giants.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL week 15 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/week_15.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} After scoring in the next two games, Tomlinson entered week 6 looking to tie Lenny Moore's NFL record of 18 consecutive regular season games with a touchdown of any type.{{Cite news |last=Stier |first=Kit |date=October 16, 2005 |title=Did you know? |page=12C |work=White Plains Journal News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107219722/moore-record/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In the game, a 27–14 win against the Oakland Raiders, Tomlinson tied the record and became the tenth player in NFL history to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown in the same game.{{Cite news |last=Dubow |first=Josh |date=October 17, 2005 |title=Chargers feeling good after win over Raiders |pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107220573/chargers-27-14-raiders/ B3] |work=Santa Maria Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107220363/chargers-23-17-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=Players with at least one rushing, receiving and passing touchdown in an NFL game |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/HkjmG |access-date=August 8, 2022 |website=stathead.com}} He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against Oakland.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – October 16th, 2005 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200510160rai.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Week 6 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/week_6.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

Tomlinson's touchdown streak came to an end the following week, as he was shut down in a 20–17 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, gaining only seven yards from 17 carries.{{Cite news |last=Mosher |first=Geoff |date=October 24, 2005 |title=Fired-up Eagles defense shuts down Tomlinson, ends streak |page=C5 |work=Wilmington News Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107222706/eagle-defense/ |via=Newspapers.com}} It would be the only game in his career where Tomlinson had at least ten carries and averaged below a yard per attempt. He credited the Eagles' defense after the game, saying, "They brought the blitz. They got into the backfield. They really controlled the line of scrimmage." Tomlinson threw his third touchdown pass of the season the following week against the Kansas City Chiefs,{{Cite news |date=October 31, 2005 |title=Chargers 28, Chiefs 20 |page=C4 |work=Merced Sun-Star |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107224551/chargers-28-20-chiefs/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and had the first four-touchdown game of his career in a 31–26 win over the New York Jets, with three rushing touchdowns and one receiving.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at New York Jets – November 6th, 2005 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200511060nyj.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was the first Charger since Chuck Muncie in 1981 to score four in a game.{{Cite news |last=Adelson |first=Andrea |date=November 7, 2005 |title=Tomlinson has 4 TDs as Chargers beat Jets |page=C-5 |work=Modesto Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107226073/chargers-31-26-jets/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 12, Tomlinson rushed 25 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns, including a 41-yard game-winner in overtime as San Diego won 23–17 against the Washington Redskins.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Washington Redskins – November 27th, 2005 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200511270was.htm |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} For his game against Washington, Tomlinson earned his third AFC Offensive Player of the Week nomination of 2005.{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL week 12 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/week_12.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} After the game, Schottenheimer declared him the finest running back he'd ever seen.{{Cite news |last=White |first=Joseph |date=November 28, 2005 |title=The great one? |pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107227308/chargers-23-17-commanders/ B5] |work=Santa Maria Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107227151/chargers-23-17-commanders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} However, Tomlinson had no 100-yard rushing games and only a single touchdown over the remaining five games of the season, three of which the Chargers lost as they finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2005 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2005/ |access-date=August 8, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He was carrying an injury for much of this period, after picking up a rib injury in week 13 against the Raiders.{{Cite news |date=December 8, 2005 |title=L.T. gets the business in the ribs from a Raider |page=C2 |work=Munster Times |agency=Staff and wire reports |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107227511/bruised-ribs/ |via=Newspapers.com}} His ribs were initially described as bruised, but later revealed to have been cracked.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 1, 2006 |title=Broncos stampede by Chargers |page=3C |work=Nashville Tennessean |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107291704/tomlinson-passes-muncie/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson's rushing totals were 1,462 yards and 18 touchdowns, ranking sixth and third in the league respectively.{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/rushing.htm |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} With two receiving touchdowns, he had 20 in total; this broke Chuck Muncie's franchise record, set in 1981. He ranked third in the league, behind Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, who set a new NFL record with 28.{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Scrimmage Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/scrimmage.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=January 2, 2006 |title=Favre ends year with 'W' |page=5C |work=Jackson Clarion-Ledger |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107292677/alexander-record/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson again made the Pro Bowl,{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2005 |title=Pro Bowl roster |page=2B |work=Mansfield News-Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107293192/2005-pro-bowl/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and was named an Associated Press second-team All-Pro.{{Cite news |date=January 10, 2006 |title=2005 All-Pro team |page=B5 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107293801/2005-all-pro/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

== 2006 season: NFL MVP ==

File:LT Chargers.jpg in 2006.]]

San Diego changed starting quarterbacks in 2006. Brees had injured his shoulder in the 2005 finale; after negotiations for a new contract with Chargers general manager A. J. Smith broke down, Brees was allowed to leave in free agency, paving the way for 2004 No. 4 overall draft pick Philip Rivers to take over.{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |date=October 6, 2022 |title=Drew Brees says he'd still be playing, but for 2005 shoulder injury |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/10/06/drew-brees-says-hed-still-be-playing-but-for-2005-shoulder-injury/ |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=March 11, 2006 |title=Brees: Chargers have a lot to lose |page=C6 |work=South Bend Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107316169/qb-switch/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson spoke positively about Rivers in the leadup to the season, saying, "He's going to be a great quarterback because the intangibles he has are what the great ones have."{{Cite news |last=Pompei |first=Dan |date=April 10, 2006 |title=Chargers' faith in Rivers runs deep |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |agency=The Sporting News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107316298/tomlinson-on-rivers/ |via=Newspapers.com}} However, Tomlinson would suggest in a 2016 interview with ESPN that the switch cost San Diego a Super Bowl win, stating that Rivers was too inexperienced at the time.{{Cite web |last1=Schefter |first1=Adam |last2=Mortensen |first2=Chris |date=September 29, 2016 |title=Mort & Schefter's week 4 notebook: Could Trevor Siemian become trade bait? |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17653662/nfl-2016-adam-schefter-chris-mortensen-week-4-notebook-denver-broncos-qb-trevor-siemian-become-trade-bait |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}

The Chargers began their regular season with a 27–0 win against the Oakland Raiders, with Tomlinson rushing 31 times for 131 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Jim |date=September 12, 2006 |title=Oakland just can't get a grip on Tomlinson |page=C8 |work=Sacramento Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107322552/chargers-27-0-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The following week, in a 40–7 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he scored twice to tie Lance Alworth's franchise record of 83 touchdowns.{{Cite news |last=Scattareggia |first=Kevin |date=September 18, 2006 |title=San Diego suffocates Tennessee |page=D4 |work=San Luis Obispo Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107323510/chargers-40-7-titans/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2006 |title=Chargers 40, Titans 7 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-09-18-0609180053-story.html |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Chicago Tribune}} Following a bye week, Tomlinson was kept out the end zone in week 4 (a 16–13 loss against the Baltimore Ravens){{Cite news |date=October 2, 2006 |title=McNair rallies Ravens, again |page=B3 |work=Newport News Daily Press |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107324891/chargers-13-16-ravens/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and week 5 (a 23–13 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, in which he gained a season-low 36 rushing yards).{{Cite news |date=October 9, 2006 |title=Rivers, Chargers take to air, open up offense |page=8E |work=Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107325966/chargers-23-13-steelers/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2006 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2006/ |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} While he only ran for 71 yards on 21 carries the following week against the San Francisco 49ers, Tomlinson had four rushing touchdowns, tying the Charger single-game record of Clarence Williams and Chuck Muncie while moving ahead of Alworth on the career total touchdowns list.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers – October 15th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200610150sfo.htm |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=October 16, 2006 |title=Tomlinson keeps Chargers on higher level |page=D10 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107333507/chargers-48-19-49ers/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=4+ rushing touchdown games, Chargers |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/EkyK4 |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} In the following game, he caught one touchdown and threw for another as San Diego erased a 14-point, 4th-quarter deficit against the Kansas City Chiefs, though they went on to lose 30–27 to a late field goal.{{Cite news |last=Brisendine |first=Steve |date=October 23, 2006 |title=San Diego loses by a last second field goal |pages=A-5, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107334470/chargers-27-30-chiefs/ A-6] |work=Ukiah Daily Journal |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107334534/chargers-27-30-chiefs/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

After the Kansas City game, Tomlinson rushed for at least two touchdowns and at least 100 yards for the next eight games in a row, all Chargers wins. He began the sequence against the St. Louis Rams, rushing for 183 yards and two touchdowns, adding a further 57 receiving yards and a third touchdown, and recovering a late onside kick attempt by the Rams in the 38–24 victory.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=October 30, 2006 |title=Smashing success |page=C1 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107343481/chargers-38-24-rams/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In the following game against the Cleveland Browns, Tomlinson's first nine carries gained a modest 47 yards, but his following nine went for 125 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 172 yards in total at a season-high 9.56 yards per carry. He again recovered a late onside kick attempt by the opposition in the 32–25 victory.{{Cite news |date=November 6, 2006 |title=Chargers snap back as Tomlinson dominates |page=D10 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107344966/chargers-32-25-browns/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Browns.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers – November 5th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200611050sdg.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL week 9 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/week_9.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In week 10, San Diego trailed the Cincinnati Bengals 21–0 after a single quarter, but came back to win 49–41.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals – November 12th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200611120cin.htm |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson rushed for four of the Chargers' seven touchdowns, including a pair 15 seconds apart that put them ahead for the first time.{{Cite news |last=Kay |first=Joe |date=November 13, 2006 |title=Chargers zap Bengals |page=C-5 |work=Modesto Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107351377/chargers-49-41-bengals/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 11, they faced the Denver Broncos in a division-topping battle of 7–2 teams. Again, they overcame a large deficit, trailing 24–7 in the third quarter before winning 35–27.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – November 19th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200611190den.htm |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson scored four touchdowns, with three on the ground and one via a 51-yard catch-and-run. Rivers described him after the game as "the best in the business" and "the ultimate weapon".{{Cite news |last=Stapleton |first=Arnie |date=November 20, 2006 |title=L.T. evaporates 17-point hole |page=D-4 |work=Redding Record-Searchlight |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107353405/chargers-35-27-broncos/ |via=Newspapers.com}} With his second score against Denver, Tomlinson became the fastest player ever to score 100 touchdowns, accomplishing the milestone in 89 games and beating the previous record of 93 games held by Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith.{{Cite news |last=Stapleton |first=Arnie |date=November 20, 2006 |title=Four more touchdowns for Tomlinson, who's fastest to 100 |page=D1 |work=San Luis Obispo Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107353980/fastest-to-100-tds/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Broncos.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – November 19th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200611190den.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL week 11 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/week_11.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Next, he accounted for all the Chargers' points in a 21–14 defeat of the Oakland Raiders, running for two touchdowns and throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Jason |date=November 27, 2006 |title=Tomlinson's arm helps him achieve feats |page=C9 |work=Sacramento Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107359694/chargers-21-14-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} After running for 178 yards and two touchdowns in a 24–21 victory against the Buffalo Bills, he had 26 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns on the season, only two behind the record Alexander had established in 2005.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills – December 3rd, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200612030buf.htm |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Wawrow |first=John |date=December 4, 2006 |title=Buffalo's Bills nor Buffalo's chills can bring down Tomlinson |page=C5 |work=Fresno Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107360608/chargers-24-21-bills/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

{{quote box|align=right|width=30%|style=padding:10px|quote="When we're old and can't play this game anymore, them are the moments we are going to remember, that we'll be able to tell our kids, tell our grandchildren. We can talk about something special that we did. We made history today."|source=—Tomlinson, after breaking the NFL record for touchdowns in a single season.}}

San Diego had a chance to clinch the AFC West by beating the Denver Broncos in week 14. Tomlinson scored once as they built an early 28–3 lead. Denver had a run of 17 unanswered points in the third quarter, but Tomlinson's record-tying 28th touchdown made the game safe at 41–20 in the final minutes.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – December 10th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200612100sdg.htm |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} A fumble recovery by Shawne Merriman soon afterward gave San Diego the ball on the Denver seven-yard line.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=December 11, 2006 |title=Charging into the record book |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107377664/chargers-48-20-broncos/ D4] |work=San Luis Obispo Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107377572/chargers-48-20-broncos/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The next play was designed as an inside run, but Tomlinson broke to the left after his lead blocker Neal slipped over.{{sfn|Paris|2016|loc=Chapter 19: LaDainian Tomlinson}} He scored the record-breaking touchdown in the corner of the end zone—his second in 47 seconds—before being mobbed by his teammates and lifted shoulder-high. Tomlinson was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his effort against the Broncos.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL week 11 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/week_11.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} After his retirement, Tomlinson listed the game as his most memorable with the Chargers.{{sfn|Paris|2016|loc=Chapter 19: LaDainian Tomlinson}}

Tomlinson broke three more records the following week, while rushing 25 times for a season-high 199 yards and two touchdowns in a 20–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. His first touchdown took him past Paul Hornung's 46-year-old record of 176 points in a season (Tomlinson finished with 186). His second touchdown was the longest of his career at 85 yards;{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson career touchdowns |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/touchdowns/ |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} that was his 28th rushing touchdown of the season, passing Alexander and Priest Holmes, and also gave him multiple touchdowns in eight consecutive games, breaking a tie with Riggins.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=December 18, 2006 |title=Lightning strikes again |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107378959/chargers-20-9-chiefs/ C-8] |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107378867/chargers-20-9-chiefs/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson's streak of rushing touchdowns came to an end the following week, as he was kept out of the end zone in a 20–17 victory against the Seattle Seahawks,{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Gregg |date=December 25, 2006 |title=Another Charger finds the end zone |page=C3 |work=Ventura County Star |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107379440/chargers-20-17-seahawks/ |via=Newspapers.com}} though he did extend his streak of 100-yard rushing games to a franchise-record nine.{{efn|Natrone Means had the previous record, with five straight 100-yard games.{{Cite web |title=Most consecutive 100+ yard rushing games, Chargers |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/BtGbd |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}}} In the regular season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, Tomlinson left the game with a minor injury in the third quarter after rushing for 66 yards and no touchdowns in the 27–20 victory;{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 1, 2007 |title=Chargers stay on win streak |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107380024/chargers-27-20-chiefs/ C-3] |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107379957/chargers-27-20-cardinals/ |via=Newspapers.com}} that was still enough to give him the NFL rushing title, the first Charger to accomplish the feat.{{efn|Paul Lowe and Dickie Post both won AFL rushing titles.{{Cite web |title=NFL rushing yards year-by-year leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_year_by_year.htm |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}}}{{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Yards Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_year_by_year.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

File:LaDainian Tomlinson vs Cleveland (cropped).jpg in 2006. He scored 3 of his NFL single-season record 31 touchdowns in the game.]]

Tomlinson led the league with 1,815 rushing yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and scoring a record 28 rushing touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL Rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/rushing.htm |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He added 56 catches for 508 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, with his average of 9.1 yards per catch the highest of his career up to that point. Tomlinson ranked second in the NFL with 2,323 yards from scrimmage; he had 404 touches in total, fumbling only twice.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL scrimmage stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/scrimmage.htm |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} As a team, San Diego finished with a 14–2 record, the best winning percentage in their history, while topping the league with 492 points and claiming the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/index.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Including his two passing touchdowns, Tomlinson was directly involved with 33 of their league-leading 59 touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=2006 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2006.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

On January 5, 2007, Tomlinson was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player for his record-breaking season, receiving 44 of the 50 votes from a panel of nationwide sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2007 |title=Chargers' Tomlinson runs away with MVP award |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2719845 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012032141/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2719845 |archive-date=October 12, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} Accepting the award, Tomlinson said that he'd had a great year on a great team, adding, "I would feel so much better about winning if we win the Super Bowl." He was the first Chargers player to win the award. Other organizations to name Tomlinson the NFL MVP included the Pro Football Writers of America,{{Cite web |title=Sporting News Player of the Year winners |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/sporting-news-player-of-the-year-award.htm |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} the Sporting News,{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2020 |title=Pro Football Writers of America History (1964–2020) |url=https://www.profootballwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PFWARecordBook_090120web.pdf |access-date=August 11, 2022 |publisher=Pro Football Writers of America |page=5}} and the Maxwell Football Club via the Bert Bell Award.{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2007 |title=Coughlin given 1-year reprieve |page=D2 |work=Atlanta Constitution |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107395210/2006-bert-bell/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The Associated Press also honored him as the Offensive Player of the Year and a unanimous 1st-Team All-Pro.{{Cite news |date=January 9, 2007 |title=Tomlinson leads AP All-Pro selections |page=C-4 |work=Modesto Bee |agency=Bee News Services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107392225/2006-ap-awards/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson was also named co-winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award alongside Brees, now quarterback of the New Orleans Saints,{{Cite news |date=February 3, 2007 |title=Former teammates share Payton award |page=B1 |work=Alexandria Town Talk |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107397318/2006-walter-payton/ |via=Newspapers.com}} and was voted to his fourth Pro Bowl.{{Cite news |date=December 20, 2006 |title=Top team dominate Pro Bowls |page=C6 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |agency=News Tribune news services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107397907/2006-pro-bowl/ |via=Newspapers.com}} On July 11, 2007, Tomlinson won four ESPY Awards including Male Athlete of the Year.{{Citation |last=Harris, Ben |title=Chargers' Tomlinson wins 4 ESPY awards |date=July 12, 2007 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-07-12-espys-2007_N.htm |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010104627/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-07-12-espys-2007_N.htm |access-date=October 23, 2010 |archive-date=October 10, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

Tomlinson's second playoff game came at home in the divisional playoffs against the New England Patriots. It was another narrow defeat, this time by a 24–21 scoreline, with Kaeding missing a potential game-tying 54-yard field goal in the final seconds.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 15, 2007 |title=Patriots edge San Diego with late field goal, face Colts for AFC title |pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107417089/chargers-21-24-patriots/ B7] |work=Vancouver Columbian |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107416774/chargers-21-24-patriots/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson's good form continued, as he carried 23 times for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns while catching two passes for 64 yards; he accounted for over half of the Chargers' 352 yards from scrimmage.{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers – January 14th, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701140sdg.htm |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} After the game, the usually mild-mannered Tomlinson shouted at New England players celebrating on the Chargers midfield logo at Qualcomm Stadium by mocking Merriman's sack dance, and suggested Patriots head coach Bill Belichick might be to blame in a post-match interview. "They showed no class at all, and maybe that comes from the head coach," said Tomlinson. Both Tomlinson and Belichick said that they'd put the incident behind them while they were together in Hawaii the following month for the Pro Bowl.{{Cite news |last=Beacham |first=Greg |date=February 7, 2007 |title=Harmony in Paradise |page=C3 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107418177/tomlinson-and-belichick/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

class="wikitable" \|+ LaDainian Tomlinson's 2006 touchdowns week by week
scope="col"\| Week number ! scope="col" width="20" \| 1 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 2 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 4 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 5 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 6 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 7 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 8 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 9 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 10 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 11 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 12 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 13 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 14 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 15 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 16 ! scope="col" width="20" \| 17 ! scope="col" \| Divisional playoffs
scope="row" \| Rushing \| style="text-align:center; \| 1 \| style="text-align:center; \| 2 \| \| \| style="text-align:center; \| 4 \| \| style="text-align:center; \| 2 \| style="text-align:center; \| 3 \| style="text-align:center; \| 4 \| style="text-align:center; \| 3 \| style="text-align:center; \| 2 \| style="text-align:center; \| 2 \| style="text-align:center; \| 3 \| style="text-align:center; \| 2 \| \| \| style="text-align:center; \| 2
scope="row" \| Receiving \| \| \| \| \| \| style="text-align:center; \| 1 \| style="text-align:center; \| 1 \| \| \| style="text-align:center; \| 1 \| \| \| \| \| \| \|
scope="row" \| Passing \| \| \| \| \| \| style="text-align:center; \| 1 \| \| \| \| \| style="text-align:center; \| 1 \| \| \| \| \| \|

class="wikitable"

|+ LaDainian Tomlinson's 2006 touchdowns week by week

scope="col"| Week number

! scope="col" width="20" | 1

! scope="col" width="20" | 2

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! scope="col" width="20" | 5

! scope="col" width="20" | 6

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! scope="col" width="20" | 8

! scope="col" width="20" | 9

! scope="col" width="20" | 10

! scope="col" width="20" | 11

! scope="col" width="20" | 12

! scope="col" width="20" | 13

! scope="col" width="20" | 14

! scope="col" width="20" | 15

! scope="col" width="20" | 16

! scope="col" width="20" | 17

! scope="col" | Divisional
playoffs

scope="row" | Rushing

| style="text-align:center; | 1

| style="text-align:center; | 2

| style="text-align:center; | 4

| style="text-align:center; | 2

| style="text-align:center; | 3

| style="text-align:center; | 4

| style="text-align:center; | 3

| style="text-align:center; | 2

| style="text-align:center; | 3

| style="text-align:center; | 2

scope="row" | Receiving

| style="text-align:center; | 1

scope="row" | Passing

| style="text-align:center; | 1

== 2007 season ==

Tomlinson and other Chargers defended Schottenheimer after their swift exit from the 2006 playoffs,{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 16, 2007 |title=Tomlinson says Marty isn't to blame |page=4D |work=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107441694/tomlinson-backs-marty/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

but Schottenheimer was nonetheless fired by team president Dean Spanos on February 12, 2007.{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2007 |title=Chargers head coach Schottenheimer fired |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2763552 |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} A dysfunctional relationship between Schottenheimer and general manager A. J. Smith was among the reasons given by Spanos.{{Cite news |date=February 13, 2007 |title=Sports briefs |page=4B |work=Rocky Mount Telegram |agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107441564/schottenheimer-out/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Norv Turner, who was the San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator in Tomlinson's rookie season, replaced Schottenheimer as head coach a week later. "Norv is the perfect fit for our team. He will know exactly what to do with our team," Tomlinson said of the hiring.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=February 20, 2007 |title=Turner takes over Chargers |page=3C |work=McAllen Monitor |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107442410/turner-in/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson struggled for much of the opening game, finishing with 17 carries for only 25 yards.{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers – September 9th, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200709090sdg.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} However, he did throw the seventh and final touchdown pass of his career (a 17-yarder to Gates),{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson career passing touchdowns |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/touchdowns/passing |access-date=August 12, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} and scored once himself as San Diego beat the Chicago Bears 14–3.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=September 10, 2007 |title=Chargers run past sloppy Bears |page=B3 |work=Santa Maria Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107446866/chargers-14-3-bears/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 2, they travelled to New England for a rematch of the Divisional Round with the New England Patriots. It was the first game the Patriots played after being sanctioned for the Spygate incident; Tomlinson again criticized the organization, commenting, "I think the Patriots actually live by the saying, 'If you're not cheating, you're not trying.'"{{Cite news |last=Ulman |first=Howard |date=September 16, 2007 |title=Pats-Chargers showdown has plenty of storylines |page=C8 |work=Louisville Courier-Journal |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107447233/after-spygate/ |via=Newspapers.com}} New England won the game 38–14, with Tomlinson rushing 18 times for 43 yards.{{Cite news |date=September 17, 2007 |title=Patriots zap Chargers |page=C-5 |work=Modesto Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107447707/chargers-14-38-patriots/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 6, he again had a big game against the Oakland Raiders, rushing 24 times for 198 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=October 15, 2007 |title=Recharged |pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107461265/chargers-28-14-raiders/ D-4] |work=Redding Record-Searchlight |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107461108/chargers-28-14-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} That would be one of only two 100-yard rushing performances in the first eleven games for Tomlinson,{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=August 12, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} who ranked only sixth in the league for rushing yardage with five games to go.{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2007 |title=Rushing leaders |page=C8 |work=Allentown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107467643/rushing-leaders-through-week-12/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

In a week 12 win against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tomlinson gained 177 yards on 23 carries and scored twice, passing Walter Payton on the all-time career rushing touchdown list with his 111th.{{Citation |last=Wilson, Bernie |title=L.T. honors Payton a day after passing Sweetness on rushing TD list |date=December 3, 2007 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-12-03-1636558602_x.htm |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108020215/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-12-03-1636558602_x.htm |access-date=October 23, 2010 |archive-date=January 8, 2011 |url-status=dead}} A day later, Tomlinson honored Payton by wearing his jersey during a press conference. The following week, San Diego trailed 17–3 against the Tennessee Titans with eight minutes to play, before Tomlinson scored on a seven-yard touchdown catch. After Gates tied the score with nine seconds to play, the game went into overtime. Tomlinson won the game with a 16-yard touchdown run.{{Cite news |date=December 10, 2007 |title=Tomlinson's TD in OT caps Chargers' rally |page=C8 |work=Sacramento Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107479188/chargers-23-17-titans/ |via=Newspapers.com}} It was the third overtime touchdown of his career, a record. He rushed 26 times for 146 rushing yards in that game, and added two further 100-yard performances for a streak of four in a row. While he only gained 56 yards in the regular season finale against the Oakland Raiders,{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – December 30th, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200712300rai.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson's late flurry was enough to win him his second NFL rushing title in a row; the Chargers finished with six straight wins, won the AFC West, and entered the playoffs as the No. 3-seed with an 11–5 record.{{Cite news |last=Dubow |first=Josh |date=December 31, 2007 |title=Raiders can't finish strong |page=32 |work=San Francisco Examiner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107480112/chargers-30-17-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/index.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

Tomlinson was involved in a pair of sideline incidents with Rivers over the course of the season. In an early-season loss to the Green Bay Packers, the two appeared to argue on the sideline; Tomlinson dismissed the interaction as "competitive talk".{{Cite news |date=September 24, 2007 |title=Tomlinson feeling lost in Chargers offense |page=S4 |work=San Luis Obispo Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107476574/tomlinson-rivers-sidelines/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Later, during the overtime win in Tennessee, Tomlinson got up and walked away immediately after Rivers sat near to him on the bench.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Charean |date=December 11, 2007 |title=My five cents |page=6D |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107473063/bench-incident-i/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Both players downplayed the incident, with Tomlinson explaining that he had left because he had just finished a conversation with Neal.{{Cite news |date=December 16, 2007 |title=Happy together |page=10D |work=Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107474647/bench-incident-ii/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

While Tomlinson's rushing statistics of 1,474 yards and 15 touchdowns were both well short of his 2006 performances, he still led the league in both areas,{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/rushing.htm |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} and became the first player since Edgerrin James in 1999 and 2000 to win back-to-back rushing titles.{{Citation |last1=Acee, Kevin |title=Tomlinson wins another rushing title |date=December 31, 2007 |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20071231-9999-1s31chnotes.html |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825081431/http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20071231-9999-1s31chnotes.html |access-date=October 23, 2010 |archive-date=August 25, 2009 |last2=Posner, Jay |url-status=dead}} During that year, Tomlinson became the 23rd player to reach 10,000 rushing yards in NFL history, as well as the fourth fastest,{{Cite news |last=Weisman |first=Larry |date=November 26, 2007 |title=Recharged |page=C4 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=USA Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107466275/chargers-32-14-ravens/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Citation |last=Silverman |first=Steve |title=Who's Better, Who's Best in Football?: Setting the Record Straight on the Top 60 NFL Players of the Past 60 Years |page=94 |year=2009 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1-60239-688-3}} while his career-opening streak of seven consecutive seasons with at least 1,200 rushing yards had previously been achieved only by Eric Dickerson.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=December 17, 2007 |title=Lions season still spiralling out of control |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107575337/chargers-51-14-lions/ 3C] |work=Lansing State Journal |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107574632/chargers-51-14-lions-17-dec-2007/ |via=Newspapers.com}} With 60 receptions for a further 475 yards and 3 touchdowns, Tomlinson ranked second in the NFL for both yards from scrimmage (1,949) and total touchdowns (18). He had zero fumbles for the first time in his career, despite a league-high 375 touches.{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Scrimmage Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/scrimmage.htm |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson was nominated for his fifth and final Pro Bowl and, unanimously, his third and final AP 1st-Team All-Pro squad.{{Cite news |date=December 19, 2007 |title=Heading to Hawaii |page=S4 |work=San Luis Obispo Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107562474/2007-pro-bowl/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Wilner |first=Barry |date=January 10, 2008 |title=Tomlinson, Moss earn unanimous All-Pro honors |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107562614/2007-all-pro/ D5] |work=Santa Maria Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107562587/2007-all-pro/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He was also awarded the Bart Starr Award for his work on and off the field.{{Cite news |date=February 3, 2008 |title=Tomlinson honored |page=6C |work=El Paso Times |agency=Times wire reports |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108429503/lt-wins-bart-starr/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson had 21 carries for 42 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown and caught three passes for 19 receiving yards in the Chargers' 17–6 Wild Card Round victory over the Tennessee Titans.{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2008 |title=Recap: Chargers secure first playoff win in 13 years |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280106024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226121837/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280106024 |archive-date=February 26, 2011 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} He scored his touchdown on fourth and goal with San Diego leading 10–6 in the final quarter, leaping over the pile and reaching across the goal line.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 7, 2008 |title=Chargers make a big leap |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2008/01/07/chargers-make-a-big-leap/ |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}} It was the Chargers' first playoff win since the 1994 AFC Championship Game, and the first of Tomlinson's career. He said of the result, "It didn't come easy, but I tell you, I'm just happy to get that first one." The following week, Tomlinson carried seven times for 28 rushing yards and caught a 20-yard pass, before injuring his knee and leaving the game in the second quarter of the Chargers 28–24 Divisional Round win against the Indianapolis Colts.{{Cite news |last=McManaman |first=Bob |date=January 14, 2008 |title=Reserve power |page=C8 |work=Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107527624/chargers-28-24-colts/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The injury proved to be a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain.{{Cite news |date=January 13, 2011 |title=L.T. sees chance to redeem himself in New England |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=6019624 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109181849/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=6019624 |archive-date=January 9, 2016}}{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2008 |title=Recap: Chargers stun Colts, will face Patriots in AFC title game |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280113011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018040500/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280113011 |archive-date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}

Tomlinson attempted to play through his injury in the following week's AFC Championship, and had two carries for five rushing yards and a one-yard catch but re-injured the knee and sat out the rest of the game.{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2017 |title=Looking back: Hurt of '07 AFC Championship immense for L.T., Chargers, San Diego |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/profootballdoc/sd-sp-pfd-lt-afc-championship-chargers-0810-story.html |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}} The Chargers lost to the New England Patriots, 21–12.{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2008 |title=Recap: Pats put away Chargers for fourth Super Bowl berth in seven years |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280120017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022161401/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280120017 |archive-date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} Tomlinson was criticized for sitting on the Chargers' bench with his helmet and a dark visor still over his head, as well as for failing to play through the injury, in contrast to Rivers, who played the whole game.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 22, 2008 |title=Chargers QB to have surgery |page=C5 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107533217/rivers-and-lt-injuries/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Acee |first=Kevin |date=January 31, 2008 |title=MRI shows Tomlinson damaged knee further vs. Pats |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080131-9999-1s31nflnotes.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109181849/http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080131-9999-1s31nflnotes.html |archive-date=January 9, 2016}} Hall of Fame ex-NFL cornerback Deion Sanders, then working for the NFL Network, said, "Now what's the problem? You're a big-time player, and big-time players must play big-time games." Tomlinson called the comments ridiculous, saying, "He's never been a running back and had a sprained MCL."{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2008 |title=NFL notes |page=C5 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107531605/sanders-attack/ |via=Newspapers.com}} During the game, the Chargers notified the press box that Tomlinson was set to return, adding to the perception that his injury was not serious. Turner defended Tomlinson, saying, "I know some of it goes back on us in terms of how it was communicated during the game ... If that injury would have happened in week 2, he probably would have missed six weeks."{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Charean |date=April 6, 2008 |title=LT didn't need insult added to injury |page=16C |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107535460/turner-defends-tomlinson/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

== 2008 season ==

File:Tomlinson warming up.jpg

Neal, who had missed time in 2007 with a broken fibula, was released by the Chargers during the offseason, leaving rookies Mike Tolbert and Jacob Hester to serve as Tomlinson's lead blockers.{{Cite news |last=Latter |first=Sam |date=August 14, 2008 |title=Neal gets to work after joining Ravens' camp |page=B-4 |work=Hanover Evening Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107563108/neal-to-ravens/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Sawchik |first=Travis |date=April 28, 2008 |title=Tolbert signs deal with San Diego |page=6B |work=Myrtle Beach Sun-News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107562846/tolbert-and-hester/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson himself declared his knee to 100% recovered after offseason rehabilitation,{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=September 3, 2008 |title=Tomlinson charged up for new season |page=C8 |work=Austin American-Statesman |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107563270/knee-recovered/ |via=Newspapers.com}} but jammed his big toe during an opening day 26–24 loss to the Carolina Panthers.{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2008 |title=Recap: Delhomme connects with Rosario in final second to lift Panthers over Chargers |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280907024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022161411/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280907024 |archive-date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} The new injury persisted throughout the season.{{Cite news |date=November 13, 2008 |title=Chargers sign RB Michael Bennett |page=B2 |work=Alexandria Town Talk |agency=Wire services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107563458/lt-toe-injury/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 4, Tomlinson had 13 carries for 31 yards through the first three quarters, and the Chargers trailed 15–3 in Oakland. He added seven carries for 75 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, helping San Diego to a 28–18 win.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – September 28th, 2008 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200809280rai.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Gutierrez |first=Paul |date=September 29, 2008 |title=Another collapse in 4th quarter spells defeat |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107563978/chargers-28-18-raiders/ C9] |work=Sacramento Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107563741/chargers-28-18-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} That was one of only two 100-rushing performances by Tomlinson all season.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} The Chargers also struggled as a team during a 4–8 start, but won three consecutive games to set up a winner-takes-all week 17 game against Denver for the AFC West title.{{Cite web |title=2008 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2008.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/index.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=December 28, 2008 |title=The Hochuli Bowl will decide AFC West |page=Sports 5 |work=Idaho Statesman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107566628/chargers-broncos-preview/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson rushed 14 times for 96 rushing yards, and had what would be the final three-touchdown game of his career as San Diego won 52–21.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=December 29, 2008 |title=Chargers jolt Broncos in West |page=C5 |work=Stuart News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107567285/chargers-52-21-broncos/ |via=Newspapers.com}} However, he picked up a groin injury while scoring the last touchdown and again entered the playoffs carrying an injury.{{Cite news |date=December 29, 2008 |title=Injury report |page=B6 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |agency=News services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107568116/lt-groin-injury/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson ended the regular season with career-lows in attempts (292) and rushing yards (1,110, ranking tenth in the league), while his 11 rushing touchdowns (seventh in the league) and 3.8 yards per carry were both the least since his rookie year.{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/rushing.htm |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} His 344 touches, 1,536 scrimmage yards, and 12 total touchdowns also represented a clear drop from the previous season.{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Scrimmage Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/scrimmage.htm |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} The Charger offense became more focused on Rivers, who led the league in touchdowns and passer rating while throwing for over 4,000 yards.{{Cite news |last=Cummings |first=Roy |date=December 22, 2008 |title=Unsung hero |page=Sports 4 |work=Tampa Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107569205/shift-to-rivers/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Passing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/passing.htm |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

In the Wild Card Round against the Colts, Tomlinson rushed five times for 25 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown before his groin injury forced him out of the game.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers – January 3rd, 2009 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200901030sdg.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2009 |title=Chargers beat Colts 23–17 in OT |url=https://www.delcotimes.com/news/article_a922f114-2523-5c18-b8e5-4af06fabd7c2.html |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Delco Times |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} His replacement Darren Sproles ran for over 100 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime as San Diego won 23–17.{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2009 |title=Recap: Speedy Sproles charges San Diego past streaking Colts |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=290103024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018050846/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=290103024 |archive-date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} Tomlinson revealed after the game that his injury, previously reported as a strain, was actually a torn tendon; he described it as the toughest injury of his career.{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2009 |title=L.T. is doubtful for Sunday |page=B2 |work=Santa Clarita Signal |agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107572550/tomlinson-groin-tear/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The following week, Tomlinson was unable to play at all in the Chargers' Divisional Round game in Pittsburgh, a 35–24 defeat.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2009 |title=Recap: Offense comes alive as Steelers roll into AFC Championship Game |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=290111023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018002925/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=290111023 |archive-date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}

== 2009 season ==

{{quote box|align=left|width=30%|style=padding:10px|quote="That's the class that he shows ... I wanted to come down here and show mine ... I'm happy that he did it. It makes it special, because he's a good human being. He's a class individual, and I hope in these later years y'all treat him that way."|source=—Jim Brown, after witnessing Tomlinson passing him as the eighth leading rusher in NFL history on December 6, 2009.{{Cite web |last=Acee |first=Kevin |date=December 7, 2009 |title=Brown pays his respects to Tomlinson |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/07/brown-pays-his-respects-tomlinson/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207162928/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/07/brown-pays-his-respects-tomlinson/ |archive-date=February 7, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=The San Diego Union-Tribune}}}}

The offseason began with contract negotiations for Tomlinson, as Smith and Spanos hoped to restructure his existing contract and free up more salary cap space.{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2009 |title=Are LT's days in San Diego over? |page=C5 |work=Santa Clarita Signal |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107593025/lt-and-smith-i/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Relations between Smith and Tomlinson were strained throughout the process. Smith was reported to have been angered when Tomlinson revealed the full extent of his injury before the Divisional Round game against Pittsburgh the prior season.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=September 13, 2009 |title=Tomlinson hoping for a super finish |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nfl/2009/09/13/tomlinson-hoping-for-a-super-finish/61358867007/ |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}} When Tomlinson release a statement expressing his desire to remain in San Diego, Smith appeared to mock him when he responded to an interview question using very similar wording.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=February 27, 2009 |title=L.T. still a Charger as free-agency deadline nears |page=C4 |work=Ventura County Star |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107591947/lt-and-smith-ii/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Smith later apologized to Tomlinson, and the two sides came to an agreement on a restructured version of his three-year contract on March 10. Tomlinson said in another statement, "My heart has always been in San Diego. I couldn't imagine putting on another uniform."{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2009 |title=LT, Bolts call truce, come to terms on restructured 3-year deal |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/03/10/LT.chargers/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818002023/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/03/10/LT.chargers/index.html |archive-date=August 18, 2009 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=SI.com |publisher=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press}}

In week 1, Tomlinson rushed 13 times for 55 yards in Oakland, with a touchdown and a lost fumble in the 24–20 victory.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – September 14th, 2009 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200909140rai.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Dubow |first=Josh |date=September 15, 2009 |title=Charging back |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107600831/chargers-24-20-raiders/ C2] |work=Fresno Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107601529/chargers-24-20-raiders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} It would be the only time all season that he averaged over four yards per carry in a game.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2009 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He suffered an ankle injury in the Oakland game and missed the next two weeks while recovering.{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Tim |date=April 24, 2010 |title=Read between lines to see Bolts' message to LT |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-read-between-lines-see-bolts-message-lt-2010apr24-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109181850/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/24/read-between-lines-see-bolts-message-lt/?print&page=all |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune}} In his first game back, he rushed seven times for 15 yards in a 38–28 loss at Pittsburgh.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 4th, 2009 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200910040pit.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Alan |date=October 5, 2009 |title=Steelers repel charge |page=C9 |work=Boston Globe |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107659376/chargers-28-28-steelers/ |via=Newspapers.com}} His most productive rushing performance came in week 10 against Philadelphia, when he ran 24 times for 96 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 31–23 victory.{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at San Diego Chargers – November 15th, 2009 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200911150sdg.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} The touchdowns gave him a total of 146 for his career, passing Marcus Allen for third place in NFL history.{{Cite news |date=November 16, 2009 |title=Tomlinson climbs chart as Chargers roll |page=C8 |work=Sacramento Bee |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107661633/chargers-31-23-eagles/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 13, Tomlinson scored his 150th career touchdown in a 30–23 win at Cleveland; he was the quickest to reach that milestone, doing so in his 137th game.{{Cite news |last=Whitehurst |first=Tom |date=December 7, 2009 |title=L.T., Chargers zap Browns |pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107666007/chargers-30-23-browns/ B3] |work=Santa Maria Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107665565/chargers-30-23-browns/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He rushed for 64 yards in the game, enough to lift him past both Marshall Faulk and former Cleveland Brown Jim Brown into eighth place on the career rushing yardage list.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns – December 6th, 2009 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200912060cle.htm |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=December 7, 2009 |title=San Diego rolls into December |page=2DD |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117314026/tomlinson-passes-jim-brown/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Brown was present in the stadium; Tomlinson pointed up to Brown after passing him and tapped his heart to show respect. Brown visited the Charger locker room to give his congratulations after the game.

At the regular season's end, Tomlinson had new career lows in rushing attempts (223), yards (730) and yards per attempt (3.3), as well as receptions (20) and receiving yards (154). Two years after his second rushing title, he ranked only 29th in the league for rushing yards, although his 12 rushing touchdowns were joint-fifth in the league.{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Rushing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/rushing.htm |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} That gave him nine consecutive 10-touchdown seasons, a record.{{Cite news |last=Xavier Lopez |first=Tobias |date=December 14, 2009 |title=LT's homecoming results in win, another record |page=6DD |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107733865/tomlinson-10-td-streak/ |via=Newspapers.com}} San Diego's offensive line was impacted by injuries during the season,{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=September 16, 2009 |title=Chargers win costly as injuries pile up |page=C3 |work=Bangor Daily News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107734581/o-line-injuries/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Acee |first=Kevin |date=April 3, 2010 |title=Chargers react to LT's jabs at his former team |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/03/chargers-react-to-lts-jabs-at-his-former-team/?print&page=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109181850/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/03/chargers-react-to-lts-jabs-at-his-former-team/?print&page=all |archive-date=January 9, 2016}} and the team as a whole averaged a league-worst 3.3 yards per rushing attempt; by contrast, their 8.0 yards per pass play led the league.{{Cite web |title=2009 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2009.htm |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Despite Tomlinson's limited contributions, San Diego finished the season with 11 straight wins, a 13–3 record, and their fifth AFC West title in six seasons.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=January 4, 2010 |title=Chargers on 11-game run |page=C5 |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107662583/chargers-23-20-commanders/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/index.htm |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson stated that he had accepted his reduced role in the team.{{Cite news |date=January 15, 2010 |title=Tomlinson fine with role |page=D2 |work=Merced Sun-Star |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107781256/tomlinson-accepting/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson's last playoff game with the Chargers was similar to his first: a three-point defeat at home against the New York Jets, this time by a 17–14 margin. Tomlinson had little impact on the game, with 12 carries for 24 yards and three receptions for no yards.{{Cite news |last=Plaschke |first=Bill |date=January 18, 2010 |title=Ah, San Diego's stupor Chargers |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107736568/chargers-14-17-jets/ C-4] |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107736377/chargers-14-17-jets/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He was booed by Chargers fans after what would be his final carry for the team, a 1-yard gain in the final quarter.{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – New York Jets at San Diego Chargers – January 17th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001170sdg.htm |access-date=August 16, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=January 18, 2010 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers can't run ball in loss to New York Jets |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ladainian-tomlinson-san-diego-chargers-run-ball-loss-new-york-jets-article-1.461005 |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=New York Daily News}} He said of the defeat, "To lose this game, I'm at a loss for words."

== Departure from San Diego ==

On January 31, Tomlinson was named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team after leading the league with 12,490 rushing yards in the 2000s, 1,797 more than runner-up Edgerrin James.{{Cite web |title=Most rushing yards in the 2000s decade, National Football League |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-rushing-yards-2000s |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=statmuse.com}} His 138 rushing touchdowns during the decade set an NFL record for any decade, and were 38 more than any other player in the 2000s.{{Cite news |last=Pearce |first=Casey |date=February 1, 2010 |title=Three Chargers named to All-Decade team |work=Chargers.com |url=http://www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Three-Chargers-named-to-All-Decade-team/5bd8e8ef-a3e4-482d-be86-5e53e1271312 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104212239/http://www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Three-Chargers-named-to-All-Decade-team/5bd8e8ef-a3e4-482d-be86-5e53e1271312 |archive-date=November 4, 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Skip |date=January 28, 2010 |title='Gifted' LaDainian Tomlinson blazed new NFL trail in 2000s |work=USA Today |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-01-26-all-decade-rbs-ladainian-tomlinson_N.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001055511/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-01-26-all-decade-rbs-ladainian-tomlinson_N.htm |archive-date=October 1, 2012}} However, there was speculation as to whether Tomlinson would play for the Chargers again, with the player himself saying that he expected to be let go.{{Cite news |date=February 5, 2010 |title=Tomlinson foresees split with Chargers |page=C3 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107781955/lt-expects-exit/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

The Chargers released Tomlinson on February 22, 2010, after nine seasons with the team.{{Citation |last1=Clayton |first1=John |last2=Mortensen |first2=Chris |title=Tomlinson released by Chargers |date=February 23, 2010 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4936783 |work=ESPN.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202225134/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4936783 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 23, 2010 |archive-date=December 2, 2010 |url-status=live}} Many experts attributed his decline to his age (30) and injuries. In his farewell news conference, Tomlinson said his production declined after the 2006 season when Schottenheimer departed. He felt that the team's focus on running dropped under Turner;{{Cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Chris |date=February 25, 2010 |title=Tears shed as No. 21 says his goodbyes |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/25/and-so-fans-thank-you-chargers/?print&page=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109181850/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/25/and-so-fans-thank-you-chargers/?print&page=all |archive-date=January 9, 2016}} in a later interview, he said, "In San Diego, everything was taken away from me. There wasn't an emphasis on running the ball, my best fullback (Neal) was gone, the linemen were pass blocking, we had a passing coach."{{Cite news |last=Stellino |first=Vito |date=April 9, 2010 |title=Aging but new |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107783823/tomlinson-on-shift-to-pass/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |work=Orlando Sentinel |page=C5 |via=Newspapers.com}} The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote in response that Tomlinson enjoyed success in his rookie season with Turner as offensive coordinator, as well as in Turner's first season as San Diego's head coach in 2007. The article also cited Turner's history of coaching 1,000-yard rushers, including Emmitt Smith's three NFL rushing titles.{{Cite news |last=Canepa |first=Nick |date=May 23, 2010 |title=No doubt: Norv wants to run ball |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/may/23/no-doubt-norv-wants-to-run-ball/?print&page=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404082257/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/may/23/no-doubt-norv-wants-to-run-ball/?print&page=all |archive-date=April 4, 2015}} A. J. Smith commented, “It’s the team that will win a world championship, not a bunch of individuals.”{{Cite news |last=Canepa |first=Nick |date=April 9, 2010 |title=LT should bite his lip, not hand that fed him |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/09/lt-should-just-bite-his-lip-not-bite-hand-that/?print&page=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109181850/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/09/lt-should-just-bite-his-lip-not-bite-hand-that/?print&page=all |archive-date=January 9, 2016}} Tomlinson later clarified that he had not been questioning his offensive line's ability to run block; he expressed a desire to eventually retire as a Charger, but acknowledged a rocky relationship with Smith and stated he felt disrespected by Smith's past comments.{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Tim |date=April 26, 2010 |title=LT trades pigskin for olive branch |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/26/lt-trades-pigskin-for-olive-branch/?print&page=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124234752/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/26/lt-trades-pigskin-for-olive-branch/?print&page=all |archive-date=November 24, 2015}}

= New York Jets =

== 2010 season ==

{{quote box|align=right|width=30%|style=padding:10px|quote="I believe he's got a lot more left. When you watch him out here bouncing around doing a great job with protections, running the football, he's still got that wiggle."|source=—Rex Ryan on Tomlinson, after watching him in training camp, May 27, 2010.{{Cite news |date=May 28, 2010 |title=NFL notes |page=9 |work=Meriden Record-Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107850160/ryan-on-tomlinson/ |via=Newspapers.com}}}}

Tomlinson entered the free-agent market for the first time in his career, expressing excitement at the future and a desire to win a Super Bowl.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=February 25, 2010 |title=Tearful farewell for L.T. |page=5B |work=Hanover Evening Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107845750/tomlinson-free-agency/ |via=Newspapers.com}} After the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings emerged as Tomlinson's most likely destinations, he met with both teams and signed a two-year, $5.2 million contract with the Jets on March 14, 2010.{{Cite web |last=Krawczynski |first=Jon |date=March 11, 2010 |title=Tomlinson leaves Vikings, headed to Jets |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-tomlinson-leaves-vikings-headed-to-jets-2010mar11-story.html |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}} He was expected to back up second-year running back Shonn Greene;{{Cite web |date=March 15, 2010 |title=Tomlinson signs with Jets |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4994748&source=ESPNHeadlines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105185006/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4994748&source=ESPNHeadlines |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=October 20, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} the Jets had released five-time 1,000 yard rusher Thomas Jones the previous month when he refused to take a pay cut to serve as Greene's backup.{{Cite news |last=Glauber |first=Bob |date=February 28, 2010 |title=No deal, so Jets to release Jones |page=A66 |work=New York Newsday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107889208/jones-released/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson chose to sign with New York because of his familiarity with the system of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, his enthusiasm for the defense- and run-focussed philosophy of head coach Rex Ryan, and because he felt that the team offered him the best chance to win a championship. He added that he believed he and Green would form a successful partnership.{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2010 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson says last year's performance was not his fault |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/jets/2010-04-01-ladainian-tomlinson-says-last-years-performance-was-not-his-fault_N.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602170529/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/jets/2010-04-01-ladainian-tomlinson-says-last-years-performance-was-not-his-fault_N.htm |archive-date=June 2, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=USA Today |agency=Associated Press}}

The Jets lost 10–9 to the Baltimore Ravens on Tomlinson's debut; he rushed 11 times for 62 yards, and was the only Jets running back to have a carry after Greene lost a fumble in the second quarter.{{Cite news |last=Pelzman |first=J.P. |date=September 14, 2010 |title=Rude awakening |pages=S-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107860315/jets-9-10-ravens/ S-6] |work=Hackensack Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107859991/jets-9-10-ravens/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In week 4, Tomlinson recorded his first 100-yard rushing game in nearly two years against the Buffalo Bills, running 19 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns in the 38–14 victory.{{Cite web |title=New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – October 3rd, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201010030buf.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He said of the performance, "I never lost confidence. I always knew I could do it. It was just about having an opportunity."{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2010 |title=Recap: LT's 2 scores lead Jets in 38–14 rout of Bills |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2010/10/03/3982_recap.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006055622/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2010/10/03/3982_recap.html |archive-date=October 6, 2010 |access-date=October 20, 2010 |website=SI.com |publisher=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press}} For his game against the Bills, Tomlinson earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week.{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL week 4 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/week_4.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson's first five games of the season were his most productive in terms of rushing yards,{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} as he ranked fifth in the league with 435 yards at 5.7 yards per carry.{{Cite web |title=Rushing leaders through week 5 of the 2010 NFL season |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/dWx6R |access-date=August 18, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}

While Tomlinson's output reduced over the remainder of the season, he nonetheless improved upon his last year with the Chargers by rushing for 914 yards at 4.2 yards per carry, while catching 52 passes for 368 yards. Tomlinson stayed injury-free, missing only the regular season finale when he was rested with the Jets assured of a wildcard appearance in the playoffs.{{Cite news |last=Edelson |first=Stephen |date=January 6, 2011 |title=Eyes on the prize |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107885907/tomlinson-entering-playoffs/ C4] |work=Bridgewater Courier-News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107885793/tomlinson-entering-playoffs/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Dunleavy |first=Ryan |date=January 3, 2011 |title=Jets gain momentum heading into playoffs |page=B3 |work=Bridgewater Courier-News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107885669/jets-38-7-bills/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He did score less frequently than in any of his seasons in San Diego, with only six touchdowns. Brought in to complement Greene, Tomlinson was the Jet's leading rusher, outgaining his backfield partner by 148 yards from 34 more carries. As a team, the Jets ranked fourth in the NFL for rushing yards (though they had been first in 2009) and 11th for total yardage (up from 20th in 2009).{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/index.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/index.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2009 New York Jets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/2009.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2010 New York Jets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/2010.htm |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He continued to move up the NFL's career rushing yardage leaderboard during the season, passing Tony Dorsett and Eric Dickerson to reach sixth place.{{Cite news |last=Pelzman |first=J.P. |date=December 7, 2010 |title=The Foxborough flop |pages=S-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107886285/jets-3-45-patriots/ S-4] |work=Hackensack Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107886175/jets-3-45-patriots/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He received the Dennis Byrd Award as the Jets' most inspirational player after a vote of his teammates.{{Cite news |last=Pelzman |first=J.P. |date=December 28, 2010 |title=Can't ruin a good thing |page=S-6 |work=Hackensack Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117315321/dennis-byrd-i/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

The Jets opened their postseason campaign with a 17–16 win at Indianapolis in the AFC Wild Card Round. Tomlinson rushed 16 times for 82 and both Jets touchdowns, and New York won on a 23-yard Nick Folk field goal as time expired.{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Kevin |date=January 9, 2011 |title=Effort from L.T helps carry day |page=45 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107900904/jets-17-16-colts/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson recorded his best rushing output since week 5. Next, the Jets travelled to New England for the Divisional Round. They were heavy underdogs, having lost 45–3 to the Patriots in week 13;{{Cite web |title=New York Jets at New England Patriots – December 6th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201012060nwe.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Borden |first=Sam |date=January 16, 2011 |title=Time is of the essence |page=C6 |work=Asbury Park Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107902274/jets-patriots-preview/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson spoke of the matchup as an opportunity to redeem himself after having to leave the AFC Championship Game against the same team three seasons earlier. He rushed ten times for 43 yards, and caught a seven-yard touchdown from Mark Sanchez in a 28–21 win.{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2011 |title=Mark Sanchez tosses 3 TDs as Jets soar into AFC title game |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=310116017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119103200/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=310116017 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |quote=LaDainian Tomlinson: 7th career postseason TD, most among all active running backs.}} In the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jets were down 24–10 in the fourth quarter when Tomlinson was unable to score a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.{{Cite news |last=Stapleton |first=Art |date=January 24, 2011 |title=Super expectations are suddenly dashed |page=C6 |work=Passaic Herald-News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107904823/jets-19-24-steelers/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The Jets went on to lose 24–19; Tomlinson finished with nine carries for 16 rushing yards.{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship – New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers – January 23rd, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101230pit.htm |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

== 2011 season ==

File:LT jets (cropped).jpg

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said after the 2010 season that he expected Tomlinson back for 2011 but "things could change."{{Cite news |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=March 1, 2011 |title=Sources: LaDainian Tomlinson to return |work=ESPNNewYork.com |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6170368 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |quote=General manager Mike Tannenbaum said after the season that he expects Tomlinson back but left some wiggle room by saying "things could change." Tomlinson's late-season fade, coupled with McKnight's strong showing in the Jets' regular-season finale, prompted some to speculate that the team was mulling a change.}} With Greene designated as the starting running back for 2011, Tomlinson began the season as a third-down back with more emphasis on being a receiver.{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Kevin |date=September 16, 2011 |title=No dancing for L.T., who's happy with role |page=66 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108443503/lt-daughter-and-3rd-down-back/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In the season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys, he rushed only five times for 16 rushing yards but caught six passes for 73 receiving yards in the 27–24 victory.{{Cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets – September 11th, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201109110nyj.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson, who was 32 years old at the start of the season, said that running routes out of the backfield was something he'd always wanted to do as he got older, and that he embraced the change.{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2011 |title=Jets' Tomlinson remakes himself as 3rd-down threat |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jets-tomlinson-remakes-himself-as-3rd-down-threat |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=FOX Sports}} The opening game set the pattern for the season, as he went on to gain more yardage by receiving than rushing in nine of the fourteen games that he played. In week 3, Tomlinson had the third 100-yard receiving game of his career, catching five passes for 116 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in a 34–24 loss at Oakland to continue the pattern of success against the Raiders he had established as a Charger.{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Kevin |date=September 26, 2011 |title=LaDainian's day wasted |page=60 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107919118/back-in-oakland/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In the game against Oakland, Tomlinson tied his career-high for longest receiving play with a 74-yard reception.{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=September 26, 2011 |title=LT continues to shine in 3rd-down role |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/7445/lt-continues-to-shine-in-3rd-down-role |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In week 7, he faced his former team for the only time in a 27–21 victory for the Jets in New York. Missing part of the game due to illness, he gained 51 yards from scrimmage; of beating the Chargers after they'd released him, he commented, "I'd be lying if I said this didn't add some extra satisfaction."{{Cite news |last=Heyman |first=Brian |date=October 24, 2011 |title=Flu cuts short Tomlinson's meeting with old team |page=1C |work=Poughkeepsie Journal |agency=Gannett News Service |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107919910/tomlinson-versus-chargers/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

In week 10 against New England, Tomlinson passed Barry Sanders (18,190 yards) for fifth on the all time yards from scrimmage list,{{Cite news |last1=Ackert |first1=Kristie |last2=Bondy |first2=Stefan |date=November 14, 2011 |title=NY Jets insider |page=55 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107921413/tomlinson-passes-sanders/ |via=Newspapers.com}} though he picked up a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury during that game and missed the next two contests against Denver and Buffalo.{{Cite news |last1=Ackert |first1=Kristie |last2=Mehta |first2=Manish |date=November 26, 2011 |title=Ryan is reluctant to run back to Tomlinson |page=47 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107922190/tomlinson-mcl/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} In his second game back after the injury, Tomlinson scored the 162nd and final touchdown of his career, on a 19-yard catch from Sanchez. In week 14, the Jets defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 37–10 to improve their record to 8–5,{{Cite news |date=December 12, 2011 |title=Stars align in N.Y. victory |page=B10 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107923204/jets-37-10-chiefs/ |via=Newspapers.com}} but lost their following two games to the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants, and needed to win their regular season finale at Miami to have any chance of making the playoffs.{{Cite news |last=Boone |first=Roderick |date=January 1, 2012 |title=Jets need |page=A68 |work=New York Newsday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107924030/jets-dolphins-preview/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In the game, Tomlinson had his most rushing attempts (11) and yards (56) of the season, adding 4 catches for 23 yards. However, New York lost to Miami by a score of 19–17, ending their season.{{Cite news |last=Pelzman |first=J.P. |date=January 2, 2011 |title=Jets notes |page=S-7 |work=Hackensack Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107925583/jets-17-19-dolphins/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson made a final move up the career rushing yards leaderboard during the game, passing Jerome Bettis (13,662) for fifth place.{{Cite news |date=January 2, 2011 |title=NFL records |page=9C |work=Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107924929/tomlinson-passes-bettis/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

Tomlinson finished his final season with 75 carries for 280 rushing yards and a single rushing touchdown, all career lows.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Greene, now the main running back, had over 1,000 yards, but the Jets rushing attack was ranked only 22nd in the league, while their offense as a whole was 25th.{{Cite web |title=2011 New York Jets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/2011.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2011 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2011/index.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Tomlinson's new pass-catching role yielded 42 catches for 449 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns; he averaged 10.7 yards per reception, a career-high. His teammates again voted him the winner of the Dennis Byrd Award.{{Cite news |last=Boone |first=Roderick |date=December 31, 2011 |title=Extra points |page=C5 |work=Hartford Courant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117315637/dennis-byrd-ii/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

= Retirement =

File:LaDainian Tomlinson 2012.jpg

Tomlinson's contract with the Jets expired after the 2011 season. In the aftermath of the season-ending loss in Miami, he said that he would need three or four weeks to decide whether to retire or not. On May 11, Tomlinson returned to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego to speak at a memorial for former Charger Junior Seau, who had been a positive influence on Tomlinson during his rookie season.{{Cite news |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Tomlinson set to retire; announcement today |page=3C |work=McAllen Monitor |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107958078/set-to-retire/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{sfn|Paris|2016|loc=Chapter 19: LaDainian Tomlinson}} On June 18, he signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the San Diego Chargers and then immediately announced his retirement.{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2012 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson to retire |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8062895/san-diego-chargers-re-sign-ladainian-tomlinson-retire |access-date=July 29, 2021 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} Chargers president Dean Spanos said that no other Charger would ever wear Tomlinson's No. 21.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Bernie |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Tomlinson signs 1-day contract with Bolts, retires |work=U-T San Diego |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/Jun/18/tomlinson-signs-1-day-contract-with-bolts-retires/all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144124/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/Jun/18/tomlinson-signs-1-day-contract-with-bolts-retires/all/ |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}

Former teammates including Rivers, Gates and three offensive linemen from his 2006 season were present at Tomlinson's farewell press conference, as were his wife, mother and children. Recalling the words of Seau at his own retirement, Tomlinson described the act as graduating to the next phase of his life. Of his failure to win a Super Bowl, he said, "I'm OK with never winning a Super Bowl championship. I know we've got many memories that we can call championship days."

= Legacy and playing style =

At the time of his retirement, Tomlinson ranked fifth in NFL history in career rushing attempts (3,174){{Cite web |title=NFL Career Rushing Attempts Leaders Through 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_att_career_2011.htm |access-date=September 1, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} and yards (13,684), and second in career rushing touchdowns (145). He had 47 100-yard rushing games, and three 100-yard receiving games. He also ranked third for receptions by a running back, catching 624 passes for 4,772 yards and a further 17 touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Most career receptions, running back |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/ZYpsg |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=stathead.com}} Overall, he ranked fourth in career touches (3,798), fifth in yards from scrimmage (18,456), and third in total touchdowns (162).{{Cite web |title=NFL career touches leaders through 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/touches_career_2011.htm |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}
{{Cite web |title=NFL career yards from scrimmage leaders through 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/yds_from_scrimmage_career_2011.htm |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He was only the second player to rush for at least 13,000 yards and catch passes for at least 4,000 yards, following Payton.{{Cite web |last=Begley |first=Ian |date=October 31, 2010 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson hits milestone |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5749297 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}} Completing his reputation as a versatile back,{{Cite news |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Tomlinson set to end amazing run today |page=1C |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |agency=Staff and wire reports |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107976277/lt-versatile-i/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Samuel |first=Ebenezer |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Tomlinson Jets into retirement |page=68 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107976721/lt-versatile-ii/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Beene |first=Darrin |date=December 24, 2006 |title=LT |page=C1 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107977241/lt-versatility-iii/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson completed 8 of 12 passing attempts in his career for seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Only Payton, with eight, had more touchdown passes among non-quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=July 24, 2020 |title=Chalk Talk: Did Payton throw most TD passes? |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalktalk/chalk-talk-did-payton-throw-most-td-passes |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=chicagobears.com}} His playoff performances were less impressive, as he was injured in 2007 and 2008 and only rushed for 100 yards once in ten postseason games.{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2011 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson's Playoff Failures Hurt Running Back's Legacy |url=https://nesn.com/2011/01/ladainian-tomlinsons-playoff-failures-hurt-running-backs-legacy/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=nesn.com}}{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson Playoffs Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

File:LaDainian Tomlinson career touchdowns by career games.png

Tomlinson was noted for consistently playing well against the Oakland Raiders.{{Cite web |last=Paris |first=Jay |date=December 22, 2019 |title=Chargers lose to raiders; LaDainian Tomlinson bemoans the loss of San Diego fans |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jayparis/2019/12/22/chargers-lose-to-raiders-ladainian-tomlinson-bemoans-the-loss-of-san-diego-fans/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=Forbes.com}} In nineteen games against them, he rushed for 2,055 yards, at an average of 108.2 yards per game, well above his career average of 80.5 yards per game. He also rushed for 22 touchdowns, caught four, and threw another three, in each case more than his total against any other single team.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson Career Splits |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/splits/ |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

An elusive runner in the open field who would use stiff arms to break tackles,{{Cite news |last=Schwab |first=Frank |date=December 10, 2006 |title=Broncos tasked with tracking down Tomlinson |page=C10 |work=Edmonton Journal |agency=McClatchy Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108012231/tomlinson-elusive/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite web |last=Garber |first=Greg |date=December 7, 2006 |title=Thwack! Stiff-arm sticking it to NFL defenders |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=2690107 |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=ESPN}} Tomlinson was also effective as a power back on inside runs.{{Cite news |last=Lev |first=Michael |date=October 23, 2005 |title=Humble LaDainian Tomlinson putting up Canton-like number |page=S7 |work=Great Falls Tribune |agency=Orange County Register |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108012160/lt-versatile-runner/ |via=Newspapers.com}} In goal-line situations, he would often leap directly over the line of scrimmage to score. He wore a distinctive dark visor for the majority of his career, to prevent migraines caused by stadiums lights; this benefitted him as it prevented defenders from reading his eyes.{{Cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Robert |last2=Morgan |first2=Casey |date=December 6, 2007 |title=L.T.: Off-Field Work Is More Important |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lt-off-field-work-is-more-important/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=cbsnews.com}} When scoring, Tomlinson would frequently perform his own "teardrop" celebration,{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2017 |title=Chargers Teammates, NFL Legends React to LT's Election to Hall of Fame |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-teammates-nfl-legends-react-to-lt-s-election-to-hall-of-fame-145726 |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=Chargers.com}} placing his left hand behind his head and flipping the ball with his right.{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2016 |title=The 8 Best And The 7 Worst NFL Touchdown Celebrations |url=https://www.thesportster.com/football/the-8-best-and-the-7-worst-nfl-touchdown-celebrations/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=The Sportster}} He was often known by his initials, L.T., a nickname he shared with Hall of Fame New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jason |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Who is the real L.T.? |url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/who-is-the-real-l-t-09000d5d829f13b8 |access-date=August 28, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}

In 2005, Schottenheimer described Tomlinson as the finest running back he'd seen, arguing that past greats such as Jim Brown and Gale Sayers hadn't had to contend with defenders of the same size and speed. When Tomlinson's number was retired in 2015, a trio of analysts on NFL.com placed him 3rd, 7th, and 8th respectively on their lists of top running backs in the Super Bowl era.{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Bucky |date=June 29, 2015 |title=Top running backs of Super Bowl era: LaDainian Tomlinson love |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/top-running-backs-of-super-bowl-era-ladainian-tomlinson-love-0ap3000000499236 |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Elliot |date=June 29, 2015 |title=Top running backs of Super Bowl era: Walter Payton is king |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/top-running-backs-of-super-bowl-era-walter-payton-is-king-0ap3000000499233 |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}
{{Cite web |last=Dameshek |first=Dave |date=June 29, 2015 |title=Top running backs of Super Bowl era: Don't forget Eric Dickerson |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/top-running-backs-of-super-bowl-era-don-t-forget-eric-dickerson-0ap3000000499234 |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=NFL.com}} In 2021, the statistical site Pro-Football-Reference.com ranked him as the fifth-best running back in NFL history.{{Cite web |last=DeArdo |first=Bryan |date=June 23, 2021 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson turns 42: Five things you may not know about the Hall of Fame running back |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ladainian-tomlinson-turns-42-five-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-hall-of-fame-running-back/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=CBSSports.com}} An NFL Network show, The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players, aired in 2010 and ranked Tomlinson No. 61 among all positions,{{Cite web |title=The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players |url=https://thetvdb.com/series/the-top-100-nfls-greatest-players/allseasons/official |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=thetvdb.com}} while a 2019 USA Today poll placed him at No. 54.{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2019 |title=Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and Lawrence Taylor top our list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl-100/2019/10/01/nfl-100-best-players-all-time/3785514002/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=USA Today}} However, he was not among the ten running backs named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.{{Cite web |last=DeArdo |first=Bryan |date=November 23, 2019 |title=Why LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Davis and other post-Emmitt RB snubs deserve to be on 100th Anniversary Team |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-ladainian-tomlinson-terrell-davis-and-other-post-emmitt-rb-snubs-deserve-to-be-on-100th-anniversary-team/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=CBSSports.com}}

The Chargers formally retired his number in 2015, while also inducting him into their Hall of Fame.{{Cite news |date=June 11, 2015 |title=Chargers to retire 21 for Tomlinson |page=C7 |work=Sacramento Bee |agency=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108020079/tomlinson-21-retired/ |access-date=November 22, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} Tomlinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, his first year of eligibility.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2016 |title=Tomlinson, Ward highlight 2017 Hall nominees |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17550469/ladainian-tomlinson-hines-ward-highlight-2017-hall-nominees |access-date=August 2, 2021 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} After thanking his family, as well as former coaches and teammates, Tomlinson spoke about his ancestors who had worked as slaves in a plantation in Tomlinson Hill and issued a call for racial unity, saying, "On America's team, let's not choose to be against one another. Let's choose to be for one another. My great‑great‑great‑grandfather had no choice. We have one. I pray we dedicate ourselves to be the best team we can be, working and living together, representing the highest ideals of mankind, leading the way for all nations to follow."

NFL career statistics

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=Regular season=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Rushing ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="7"\| Passing ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD	Int	Rtg	Fum	Lost
2001	SD \| 16\|\| 16\|\| 339 \|\| 1,236 \|\| 3.6 \|\| 54 \|\| 10 \|\| 59 \|\| 367 \|\| 6.2 \|\| 27 \|\| 0 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 8 \|\| 5
2002	SD \| 16\|\| 16\|\| 372 \|\| 1,683 \|\| 4.5 \|\| 76 \|\| 14 \|\| 79 \|\| 489 \|\| 6.2 \|\| 30 \|\| 1 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 3 \|\| 1
2003	SD \| 16\|\| 16\|\| 313 \|\| 1,645 \|\| 5.3 \|\| 73 \|\| 13 \|\| 100 \|\| 725 \|\| 7.3 \|\| 73 \|\| 4 \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 100.0\|\| 21 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 158.3 \|\| 2 \|\| 0
2004	SD \| 15 \|\| 15 \|\| 339 \|\| 1,335 \|\| 3.9 \|\| 42 \|\| style="background:#cfecec;"\| 17 \|\| 53 \|\| 441 \|\| 8.3 \|\| 74 \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 2 \|\| 50.0 \|\| 38 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 95.8 \|\| 6 \|\| 2
2005	SD \| 16\|\| 16\|\| 339 \|\| 1,462 \|\| 4.3 \|\| 62 \|\| 18 \|\| 51 \|\| 370 \|\| 7.3 \|\| 41 \|\| 2 \|\| 3\|\| 4\|\| 75.0 \|\| 47 \|\| 3 \|\| 0 \|\| 153.1 \|\| 3 \|\| 1
style="background:#ff0; width:3em;"\|2006	SD \| 16\|\| 16\|\| 348 \|\| style="background:#cfecec;"\| 1,815 \|\| 5.2 \|\| 85\|\| style="background:#e0cef2;"\| 28 \|\| 56 \|\| 508 \|\| 9.1 \|\| 51 \|\| 3 \|\| 2 \|\| 3 \|\| 66.7 \|\| 20 \|\| 2 \|\| 0 \|\| 125.0 \|\| 2 \|\| 1
2007	SD \| 16\|\| 16\|\| 315 \|\| style="background:#cfecec;"\| 1,474 \|\| 4.7 \|\| 49 \|\| style="background:#cfecec;"\| 15 \|\| 60 \|\| 475 \|\| 7.9 \|\| 36 \|\| 3 \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 100.0\|\| 17 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 158.3 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2008	SD \| 16\|\| 16\|\| 292 \|\| 1,110 \|\| 3.8 \|\| 45 \|\| 11 \|\| 52 \|\| 426 \|\| 8.2 \|\| 32 \|\| 1 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 1 \|\| 0
2009	SD \| 14 \|\| 14 \|\| 223 \|\| 730 \|\| 3.3 \|\| 36 \|\| 12 \|\| 20 \|\| 154 \|\| 7.7 \|\| 36 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 1 \|\| 0.0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 39.6 \|\| 2 \|\| 2
2010	NYJ \| 15 \|\| 13 \|\| 219 \|\| 914 \|\| 4.2 \|\| 31 \|\| 6 \|\| 52 \|\| 368 \|\| 7.1 \|\| 21 \|\| 0 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 4 \|\| 0
2011	NYJ \| 14 \|\| 1 \|\| 75 \|\| 280 \|\| 3.7 \|\| 20 \|\| 1 \|\| 42 \|\| 449 \|\| 10.7 \|\| 74 \|\| 2 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 0 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00.htm Career]	170	155	3,174	13,684	4.3	85	145	624	4,772	7.6	74	17	8	12	66.7	143	7	0	146.9	31	12

=Postseason=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Rushing ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2004	SD \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 26 \|\| 80 \|\| 3.1 \|\| 12 \|\| 0 \|\| 9\|\| 53 \|\| 5.9 \|\| 10 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2006	SD \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 23 \|\| 123 \|\| 5.3\|\| 15 \|\| 2\|\| 2 \|\| 64\|\| 32.0\|\| 58\|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2007	SD \| 3\|\| 3\|\| 30 \|\| 75 \|\| 2.5 \|\| 12 \|\| 1 \|\| 5 \|\| 40 \|\| 8.0 \|\| 20 \|\| 0 \|\| 1 \|\| 0
2008	SD \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 5 \|\| 25 \|\| 5.0 \|\| 13 \|\| 1 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2009	SD \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 12 \|\| 24 \|\| 2.0 \|\| 5 \|\| 0 \|\| 3 \|\| 0 \|\| 0.0 \|\| 3 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2010	NYJ \| 3\|\| 3\|\| 35\|\| 141\|\| 4.0 \|\| 23\|\| 2\|\| 6 \|\| 19 \|\| 3.2 \|\| 13 \|\| 1\|\| 1\|\| 0
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00/gamelog/post/ Career] \|\| 10 \|\| 10 \|\| 131 \|\| 468 \|\| 3.6 \|\| 23 \|\| 6 \|\| 25 \|\| 176 \|\| 7.0 \|\| 58 \|\| 1 \|\| 2 \|\| 0

File:Tomlinson warming up 1.jpg

=NFL records=

Most single season touchdowns: 31 (2006){{Cite web |title=NFL Touchdowns Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/all_td_single_season.htm |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Most single season rushing touchdowns: 28 (2006){{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Touchdowns Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_td_single_season.htm |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Most points scored in a single season: 186 (2006){{Cite web |title=NFL Points Scored Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/scoring_single_season.htm |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Most consecutive regular season games with a rushing touchdown: 18 (2004–2005){{Cite web |title=Most consecutive games with 1+ rushing touchdowns |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/9oWHX |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most consecutive regular season games with a touchdown: 18 (2004–2005; tied with Lenny Moore){{Cite web |title=Most consecutive games with 1+ touchdowns |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/cGHuh |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most consecutive games with 2+ touchdowns: 8 (2006){{Cite web |title=Most consecutive games with 2+ touchdowns |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/cjOkD |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most consecutive games with 3+ touchdowns: 4 (2006){{Cite web |last=Brinson |first=Will |date=June 17, 2012 |title=No one had a nose for the end zone like LaDainian Tomlinson |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/no-one-had-a-nose-for-the-end-zone-like-ladainian-tomlinson/ |access-date=August 25, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}{{Cite web |title=Most consecutive games, 3+ touchdowns |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/WcOSf |access-date=August 25, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most consecutive games with 4+ touchdowns: 2 (2006; tied with Marshall Faulk and Jim Taylor){{Cite web |title=Most consecutive games, 4+ touchdowns |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/HxcDc |access-date=August 25, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most games with 200+ yards from scrimmage, season: 5 (2003){{Cite web |title=Most games with 200+ yards from scrimmage, season |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/AdJ04 |access-date=August 29, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most consecutive seasons with 1,200+ or more yards rushing: 7 (2001–2007; tied with Eric Dickerson){{Cite web |title=Most consecutive season, 1,200+ rushing yards |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/ZgbbW |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most consecutive seasons with 10+ rushing touchdowns: 9 (2001–2009){{Cite book |last=Labombarda |first=Santo |url=https://operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf |title=2022 NFL Record and Fact Book |date=2022 |publisher=NFL |editor-last=Signora |editor-first=Michael |page=21 |chapter=What to look for in 2022 |access-date=August 24, 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Most consecutive seasons with 10+ rushing touchdowns |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/YxPMq |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most consecutive seasons with 15+ touchdowns: 6 (2002–2007){{Cite web |title=Most consecutive seasons, 15+ touchdowns |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/NFPrC |access-date=August 25, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most overtime touchdowns, career: 3 (2002, 2005, 2007; tied with Davante Adams){{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Paul |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Raiders' Davante Adams a 'different' receiver during current three-game tear |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/blog/las-vegas-raiders/post/_/id/27154/raiders-davante-adams-a-different-receiver-during-current-three-game-tear |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=espn.co.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Most overtime touchdowns, career |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/LNujw |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most games with 2+ rushing touchdowns, career: 38 games{{Cite web |title=Most games with 2+ rushing touchdowns, career |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/RNFBZ |access-date=August 29, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Most games with 3+ rushing touchdowns, career: 12 games{{Cite web |title=Most games with 3+ rushing touchdowns, career |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/5KmqE |access-date=August 29, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Fastest player to gain 15,000 yards from scrimmage: 121 games played{{Cite web |title=Most yards from scrimmage, career games 1 through 121 |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/6gZYg |access-date=August 25, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Fastest player to score 100 touchdowns: 89 games played{{Cite web |title=Most touchdowns, first 89 games of career |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/4MlQx |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}
Fastest player to score 150 touchdowns: 137 games played{{Cite web |title=Most touchdowns, first 137 games of career |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/jtqkC |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=stathead.com}}

==Franchise records==

The Chargers credit Tomlinson with numerous records. Career figures discount his two seasons with the New York Jets.

Rush Attempts: career (2,880), season (372 in 2002), game (39 in 2002; tied with Marion Butts),{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=287}} playoff game (26 in 2004 wild card round).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=309}}
Rush Yards: career (12,490), season (1,815 in 2006), game (243 in 2003).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=286}}
Rushing TDs: career (138), season (28 in 2006), game (4, achieved three times; tied with Clarence Williams and Chuck Muncie),{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=286}} playoffs (4).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=309}}
100+ yard rushing games: career (46), season (10 in 2006), consecutive (9 in 2006).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=286}}
200+ yard rushing games: career (4).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=286}}
Yds from Scrimmage: career (16,445), season (2,370 in 2003), game (271 on December 1, 2002, against the Denver Broncos).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=288}}
Total TDs: career (153), season (31 in 2006),{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=286}} playoffs (4, tied with three others).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=309}}
100+ yards from scrimmage games: career (79), season (14 in 2006), consecutive (11, 2006).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=288}}
200+ yards from scrimmage games: career (12).{{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=288}}
Points: season (186 in 2006){{sfn|Media Guide|2022|page=286}}

=Awards and honors=

Image:Ldt tackle.jpg at the 2006 Pro Bowl.]]

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2017)
NFL MVP (2006)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2006)
Walter Payton Man of the Year (2006)
3× First-team Associated Press All-Pro (2004, 2006, 2007)
3× Second-team Associated Press All-Pro (2002, 2003, 2005){{Cite web |title=2003 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/allpro.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/allpro.htm |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
5× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
2× NFL rushing leader (2006, 2007)
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team (2009){{Cite web |last=Canepa |first=Nick |date=November 16, 2009 |title=Greatest Chargers list rings true |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-this-chargers-list-rings-true-canepa-2009nov16-story.html |access-date=September 1, 2022 |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune}}
Inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame (2015)
No. 21 retired by Chargers (2015)
Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award (2007)
Best Male Athlete ESPY Award (2007)
Bart Starr Man of the Year Award (2008)
2× Dennis Byrd Most Inspirational Player Award (2010, 2011){{Cite web |title=Byrd Award |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/team-awards/byrd-award |access-date=August 27, 2022 |website=newyorkjets.com}}

Personal life

File:LTByPhilKonstantin.jpg

{{external media| float = right| width = 180px| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?319737-1/words-chris-tomlinson After Words interview with Chris Tomlinson on Tomlinson Hill, conducted by Lavar Tomlinson, June 23, 2014], C-SPAN}}

Tomlinson is a Christian.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Samuel |date=January 6, 2017 |title=NFL Great LaDainian Tomlinson Stars as Pastor in New Harold Cronk Film |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/nfl-great-ladainian-tomlinson-stars-as-pastor-in-new-harold-cronk-film.html |access-date=July 26, 2021 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}} Tomlinson was introduced to his future wife, LaTorsha Oakley, while the two were students at TCU.{{Cite web |last=Pressman |first=Stacey |date=December 26, 2006 |title=Coffee with LaTorsha Tomlinson |url=http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/716786/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061227164224/http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/716786/detail.html |archive-date=December 27, 2006 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=NBCSports.com |publisher=NBC Sports}} The couple married on March 21, 2003,{{Cite news |date=March 25, 2003 |title=Charger gets hitched in Fallbrook |page=B-3 |work=North County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108443116/tomlinson-wedding/ |access-date=November 22, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} and have two children: a son born in 2010 and a daughter in 2011.{{Cite web |last=Togerson |first=Derek |date=July 8, 2010 |title=L.T.'s a Dad |url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/LTs-a-Dad-98020749.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711083027/http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/LTs-a-Dad-98020749.html |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=NBCSanDiego.com |publisher=NBC San Diego}} In 2007, Tomlinson's father Oliver Tomlinson and brother-in-law Ronald McClain died in an auto accident.{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2007 |title=Tomlinson's father killed in truck accident |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2777233 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525003506/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2777233 |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2007 |title=Tomlinson Devastated By Father's Death |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tomlinson-devastated-by-fathers-death/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119175518/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/24/sportsline/main2510585.shtml |archive-date=November 19, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |website=CBSNews.com |publisher=CBS News (Sports) |agency=Associated Press}}

During his playing career, Tomlinson was featured in commercials for Nike,{{Cite news |last=Dulac |first=Gerry |date=November 15, 2008 |title=Life won't imitate art on field tomorrow |pages=D-4, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117311782/nike-commercial/ D-9] |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117311898/nike-commercial/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Campbell Soup,{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2008 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson on the Set of the New Campbell's Soup Commercial |url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/ladainian-tomlinson-on-the-set-of-the-new-campbell-s-soup-comme-09000d5d808395fd#0bd1fa92-c673-43c2-a285-f4e10dba4dad |access-date=August 28, 2022 |website=NFL.com}} and Vizio.{{Cite web |last=Chuang |first=Tamara |date=July 10, 2007 |title=New face of Vizio: LaDainian Tomlinson |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2007/07/10/new-face-of-vizio-ladainian-tomlinson/ |access-date=August 28, 2022 |website=The Orange County Register}} In April 2007, CNBC reported that Tomlinson turned down a request to become the cover athlete for EA Sports' Madden NFL 08 video game, as the money offered was not enough to justify the promotional work involved.{{Cite web |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=April 18, 2007 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson turns down Madden |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2007/04/18/tomlinson-turns-down-madden-rutgers-coach-cashes-in-no-texting-another-mj.html |access-date=August 28, 2022 |website=CNBC}}

In August 2012, Tomlinson joined the cast of NFL Network's Sunday morning show "First on the Field" as an analyst.{{Cite news |date=August 30, 2012 |title=Notebook |page=C3 |work=Detroit Free Press |agency=Free Press news services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108465374/lt-to-nfln/ |access-date=November 22, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} As of 2022, he is still with the network.{{Cite web |title=LaDainian Tomlinson – Analyst |url=https://www.nfl.com/network/on-air-talent/ladainian-tomlinson-x5064 |access-date=August 28, 2022 |website=nfl.com}} He covers Chargers preseason games as an analyst with CBS.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2022 |title=Noah Eagle teams with Hall of Famers Dan Fouts and LaDainian Tomlinson for Los Angeles Chargers preseason broadcasts |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/noah-eagle-teams-with-dan-fouts-and-ladainian-tomlinson-for-preseason-broadcasts |access-date=August 28, 2022 |website=chargers.com}}

Tomlinson wrote the foreword for Chris Tomlinson's book Tomlinson Hill, which traces the story of two families—one white and one black—from a plantation in Tomlinson Hill, Texas. The plantation was owned by Chris' great-great-grandparents, while LaDainian descended from a slave owned by Chris' ancestors.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2014 |title=On 'Tomlinson Hill,' Journalist Seeks Truth And Reconciliation |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/07/21/332607060/on-tomlinson-hill-journalist-seeks-truth-and-reconciliation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722095416/http://www.npr.org/2014/07/21/332607060/on-tomlinson-hill-journalist-seeks-truth-and-reconciliation |archive-date=July 22, 2014 |access-date=November 22, 2022 |website=NPR.org}} In 2016, Tomlinson was cast in the feature film God Bless the Broken Road.{{Cite web |last=Busch |first=Anita |date=May 16, 2016 |title=Kim Delaney, Jordin Sparks Join 'God Bless The Broken Road' |url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/kim-delaney-jordin-sparks-god-bless-the-broken-road-movie-1201757277/ |access-date=June 19, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=January 3, 2017 |title=NFL Great LaDainian Tomlinson to Star in Movie Based on Country Song |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nfl-great-ladainian-tomlinson-star-movie-based-country-song-960209 |access-date=June 19, 2018 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} While originally announced for a 2016 release, it was finally released in September 2018.

Tomlinson has his own charitable foundation. The foundation helps high school and college students, provides meals for people who are homeless or poor, and raises money for after-school programs and other causes. It focuses its efforts in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Texas.{{Cite web |last=Horst |first=Carole |date=August 3, 2017 |title=NFL's LaDainian Tomlinson Leads Charge in Philanthropic Outreach as L.A. Chargers Build Local Brand |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/spotlight/nfl-ladanian-tomlinson-chargers-1202514017/ |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=www.variety.com |language=en-US}} The charity was cited as a reason for Tomlinson receiving the Bart Starr Award in 2008.

In 2017, the Los Angeles Chargers announced that Tomlinson was joining the team as a special assistant to ownership. The role involves attempting to build a new fanbase after the Chargers' move to Los Angeles.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2017 |title=LaDainian Tomlinson new Chargers assistant to owner |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ladainian-tomlinson-new-chargers-assistant-to-owner-0ap3000000796325 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}

Tomlinson's nephew, Tre Tomlinson, followed in his footsteps by playing at TCU, where he earned All-Big 12 honors three times playing cornerback and won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2022 as the nation's best defensive back.{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2022 |title=TCU's Hodges-Tomlinson intercepts Jim Thorpe Award |url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/tcus-hodges-tomlinson-intercepts-jim-thorpe-award/article_6631abde-7768-11ed-8dd3-0f4dce9558e7.html |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=Waco Tribune Herald}} Tre was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams.{{Cite magazine |last=Brener |first=Jeremy |date=April 29, 2023 |title=NFL Draft: Rams Select LaDainian Tomlinson's Nephew with Pick No. 182 |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/news/los-angeles-la-rams-nfl-draft-pick-sixth-round-ladainian-tomlinson-nephew-trevius-hodges-tcu |access-date=February 4, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}

Notes

References

Bibliography

{{Cite book |last=Paris |first=Jay |title=Game of my life: San Diego Chargers |publisher=Sports Publishing |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-61321-922-5 |edition=Ebook}}
{{Cite book |ref={{harvid|Media Guide|2022}} |url=https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/chargers/xtjlgwzfbe9s1u4udvm4 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Media Guide |date=2022 |publisher=Los Angeles Chargers |format=Online}}

External links

{{Footballstats |nfl=LaDainian-Tomlinson|cfl= |afl= |espn=2553 |cbs= |yahoo=5452 |fox= |si= |pfr=T/TomlLa00 |rotoworld= |dbf=}}
[https://gofrogs.com/sports/football/roster/ladainian--tomlinson/13409 TCU Horned Frogs bio]
{{Profootballhof|ladainian-tomlinson}}
{{College Football HoF|2370}}

{{Navboxes

| title = LaDainian Tomlinson—awards and honors

| list1 =

{{succession box | title=Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award| before=Shaun Alexander| years=2007| after=Brett Favre }}{{succession box | title=Best NFL Player ESPY Award| before=Shaun Alexander| years=2007| after=Tom Brady}}

{{2000 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}