 Tomlinson in 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles Chargers | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Special assistant | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1979-06-23)June 23, 1979 (age 46) Rosebud, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | University (Waco, Texas) | ||||||||||||||
| College | TCU (1997–2000) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2001: 1st round, 5th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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Operations | |||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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LaDainian Tarshane Tomlinson (born June 23, 1979), nicknamed "L.T.", is an American former professionalfootballrunning back who played in theNational Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. After a successfulcollege football career with theTCU Horned Frogs, theSan Diego Chargers selected him as the fifth overall pick in the2001 NFL draft. He spent nine years with the Chargers, earning fivePro Bowl appearances, three Associated Press first-teamAll-Pro nominations, and twoNFL rushing titles. Tomlinson was also voted theNFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2006 after breaking the record fortouchdowns in a single season. He played two further seasons with theNew York Jets, before retiring. Considered one of the greatest running backs of all time, he was elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
A native ofRosebud, Texas, Tomlinson showed athletic promise while attendingUniversity High School. He was recruited byTexas 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 earnedunanimous All-American honors, and won theDoak Walker Award as the best college running back. TCUretired hisNo. 5 in 2005, and he was inducted to theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
The Chargers selected Tomlinson No. 5 overall after passing on the opportunity to select highly rated quarterbackMichael 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 byEric Dickerson. He became a prolific scorer underMarty 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 intheir 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 fivePro Bowls (2002, 2004–2007), was a first-team All-Pro three times (2004, 2006, 2007), and won consecutiverushing 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 behindWalter Payton (eight) for non-quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era. Tomlinson had his No. 21retired by the Chargers in 2015 and was inducted into thePro 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 theNFL Network, and also serves as a special assistant to the Chargers' principal owner,Dean Spanos.
Tomlinson was born on June 23, 1979, inRosebud, Texas, to Loreane Chappelle and Oliver Tomlinson. His mother worked as a preacher; his father left the family when Tomlinson was seven years old.[1] Tomlinson did not see his father very often afterward.[2] He grew up with a brother and a sister and later, also a half-sister and three half-brothers.[3] At age nine, Tomlinson joined thePop Warner Little Scholars football program and scored a touchdown the first time he touched the ball.[1]
Tomlinson attendedUniversity High School inWaco, Texas, where he ran track and playedbasketball,baseball, and football. Tomlinson began hisfootball career playing as both alinebacker and afullback,[3] but blossomed on the offensive side of the ball; he was named to the District 10–4A second-team offense as arunning back.[4] 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.[5][6] He was named to the state all-star football team in 1997, which included future San Diego teammatesDrew Brees (Austin Westlake) andQuentin Jammer (Angleton).[7]
Tomlinson was an avidDallas Cowboys andMiami Hurricanes fan during his youth. He idolizedWalter Payton and admiredEmmitt Smith,Jim Brown, andBarry Sanders.[6][8][9] Tomlinson was able to meet Smith while attending a camp run byDallas Cowboys tight endJay Novacek.[3]
Tomlinson accepted anathletic scholarship atTexas Christian University inFort Worth, Texas, then a member of theWestern Athletic Conference (WAC). He played for theTCU Horned Frogs from 1997 to 2000.[10] 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.[11] They had recently been downgraded to a minor conference (the WAC) after the breakup of theSouthwest Conference.[12]
"What have we been playing college football, a hundred-and-something years and nobody has even been able to do what he did today."
During Tomlinson's freshman and sophomore years, he split time withBasil Mitchell and other backs, while the Horned Frog posted records of1–10 and6–5.[14][15] The latter of these seasons finished with TCU's first bowl win in 42 years against theUSC Trojans in theSun Bowl,[16][17] though Tomlinson only rushed for 34 yards in the game (Mitchell had 185 yards and two touchdowns).[18] 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 to7–4. On November 20, he set anNCAA Division I record for most rushing yards in a game with a 43-carry, 406-yard, 6-touchdown performance againstUTEP.[13][b] TCU ended the season with a 28–14 win againstEast Carolina in the1999 Mobile Alabama Bowl.[21] His 20 rushing touchdowns were tied for the NCAA lead withRon Dayne. He finished second in the NCAA in rushing to Dayne with 1,974 rushing yards.[22] He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-WAC for the 1999 season.[23]
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 overNevada.[24] In the following game againstNorthwestern, he had 39 carries for 243 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 41–14 victory.[25] In the following game, a 52–3 victory overArkansas State, he had 23 carries for 140 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[26] TCU ended September with a perfect 4–0 mark with a 24–0 victory overNavy where Tomlinson had 33 carries for 121 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.[27] 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 overHawaii.[28] In the next game, againstTulsa, he had 27 carries for 119 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the 17–3 victory.[29] In the following game againstRice, he had 41 carries for 200 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 37–0 victory.[30] 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.[31] TCU dropped their first game of the season in the following game againstSan Jose State. Tomlinson had 32 carries for 155 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 27–24 loss to the Spartans.[32] In the next game againstFresno State, he had 42 carries for 231 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the 24–7 victory.[33] In the following game againstUTEP, Tomlinson rushed 33 times for 305 yards and three touchdowns in the 47–14 victory.[34] TCU closed out their regular season with a 62–7 victory overSMU, where Tomlinson had 26 carries for 174 rushing yard and one rushing touchdown.[35] In the 2000 season, TCU again improved their record, going10–1 and qualifying for their second consecutive Mobile Alabama Bowl.[36][37] He led the NCAA for the second time with 2,158 yards and 22 touchdowns,[38] adding 28 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns in his final game with TCU,[39] a 28–21 defeat in theMobile Alabama Bowl.[40] He was recognized as a unanimous first-teamAll-American.[41] He won theDoak Walker Award and theJim Brown Trophy as the nation's best running back,[42] and was a finalist for the2000 Heisman Trophy,[38] but came in fourth in the voting.[43] Tomlinson also repeated as WAC Offensive Player of the Year and as an All-WAC first-team selection.[44][45]
Tomlinson completed his career at TCU with 5,263 rushing yards, ranking sixth in NCAA Division I history at the time.[46] He had one more game before becoming a professional, taking part in the 2001Senior Bowl on January 21. Tomlinson rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for a further 28 yards, earning the game'sMVP award and helping the South beat the North 21–16.[47]
TCUretired his No. 5 during halftime of a November 2005 game againstUNLV.[48] He was their single-game, single-season, and career record holder in both rushing touchdowns and rushing yards, amongst other records.[49] In December of that year, Tomlinson fulfilled a promise to his mother by earning his degree in communications from TCU.[50] He was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame on December 9, 2014.[51]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the NCAA | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Season | Team | GP | Rushing | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | |||
| 1997 | TCU | 11 | 126 | 538 | 4.3 | 6 | 11 | 109 | 0 |
| 1998[c] | TCU | 11 | 144 | 717 | 5.0 | 8 | 6 | 34 | 0 |
| 1999[d] | TCU | 11 | 268 | 1,850 | 6.9 | 18 | 12 | 55 | 0 |
| 2000[e] | TCU | 11 | 369 | 2,158 | 5.8 | 22 | 10 | 40 | 0 |
| Totals[10][f] | 44 | 907 | 5,263 | 5.8 | 54 | 39 | 238 | 0 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft10+1⁄4 in (1.78 m) | 221 lb (100 kg) | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9 in (0.23 m) | 4.46 s | 1.54 s | 2.59 s | 4.21 s | 6.84 s | 40.5 in (1.03 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 18 reps | 13 |
| All values from the NFL Combine[59][60][61] | ||||||||||||
After a 1–15 record in2000, theSan Diego Chargers had the first pick in the2001 NFL draft.[62] Quarterback was a weakness, with 1998 first-round pickRyan Leaf considered adraft bust as he was cut after three unsuccessful seasons;[63] Charger quarterbacks had combined for a league-high 30 interceptions in 2000.[64] However, running back was also an area of need,[65] with their team total of 1,062 yards the fewest recorded in a 16-game season.[66] They were expected to use the No. 1 pick on quarterbackMichael Vick,[67] but preliminary contract negotiations with the player broke down, and general managerJohn Butler instead accepted a trade offer from theAtlanta 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 returnerTim Dwight.[68][69]
San Diego had shown interest in Tomlinson even before the trade with Atlanta.[70] They selected him fifth overall, after theCleveland Browns (picking third, and potentially interested in a running back) choseGerard Warren instead.[71] Instead of Vick, San Diego selectedDrew Brees in the second round as their future quarterback.[72] Chargers head coachMike 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."[73]
Tomlinson was aholdout through much of training camp, while his agentTom Condon negotiated with the Chargers.[74] He eventually signed a six-year, $38 million contract on August 21.[75] He had missed the first two preseason games, and was kept on the bench for the third,[76] before featuring briefly in the final game, rushing five times for 14 yards in a defeat to theArizona Cardinals.[77]
On September 9, Tomlinson made his regular season debut in a 30–3 victory over theWashington Redskins. He was immediately given a heavy workload, carrying 36 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the 30–3 victory.[78] The 36 carries were tied for the third-most in franchise history up to that point,[79] while the 113 yards were a new record for a Charger in his first career game.[80] Tomlinson followed this by rushing for 90, 107, and 102 yards in the following three games.[81] He added four more touchdowns; in a week 3 win against theCincinnati Bengals, he posted the first three-touchdown game by a Charger running back sinceNatrone Means in1994.[82] 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 backTerrell Fletcher led the team theprevious season.[83]
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 theKansas City Chiefs.[84] 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 1,603yards from scrimmage, breaking the franchise record thatLance Alworth had set in1965.[85] San Diego finished the season with a nine-game losing streak and a 5–11 record.[86] 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."[87]
League-wide, Tomlinson finished ninth in rushing yards and tied for fourth in 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 thePhiladelphia Eagles,[88] were joint-most among non-quarterbacks.[89] Tomlinson led the league in touches (rushing attempts and receptions combined) with 398, and ranked ninth for yards from scrimmage.[90] He received 16 votes for theAssociated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award, finishing second toAnthony Thomas (22 votes).[91] Thomas and Tomlinson were the two running backs named to thePro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.[92]
A day after their final game of 2001, the Chargers fired head coachMike Riley,[93] replacing him with Marty Schottenheimer, recently dismissed as Washington's head coach.[94] Schottenheimer brought with him a reputation for favoring the running game over the pass.[95] 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."[96] At hisPro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech in 2017, Tomlinson would describe Schottenheimer as the best coach he ever had.[3]
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 theCincinnati Bengals.[97] In week 4, he had 27 carries for 217 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a 21–14 victory over thedefending Super Bowl championNew England Patriots, tyingGary Anderson for the most yards in a single game by a Charger.[98] For his game against the Patriots, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.[99][100] In week 7, he tiedMarion 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 championOakland Raiders 27–21 in overtime.[101] With five catches in the same game, he had 44 touches in total, breaking another Means record.[102]
"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."
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 theDenver 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,[104] while his 271 yards from scrimmage brokeWes Chandler's Charger record for a regular season game.[g] With 48 touches, he broke the franchise record he had set in week 7 and also tiedJames Wilder's NFL record.[102][106] Denver had entered the game with the league's top-ranked run defense.[103] For his game against the Broncos, he earned his second AFC Offensive Player of the Week nomination.[107][108]
San Diego was 8–4 after beating the Broncos, but lost their last four in a row to miss the playoffs.[109] Tomlinson nonetheless passed Means' franchise record for rushing yardage in a season with three games still to play,[110] and finished with 1,683 yards,[111] second-most in the league.[112] His yards per carry improved by almost a full yard, to 4.5, while his 14 rushing touchdowns were another franchise record.[113] As well as his rushing feats, Tomlinson also tiedRonnie Harmon's Charger record for receptions by a running back, with 79.[114] 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.[115] Tomlinson became the first Charger to gain 2,000-plus yards from scrimmage,[116] with his total of 2,172 ranking third in the league.[117] He also improved his ball security, fumbling only three times.[111]
Tomlinson was rewarded for his performances with his firstPro Bowl nomination (together withJunior Seau, he was one of only two Chargers so honored),[118] as well as being named anAssociated Press (AP) 2nd-teamAll-Pro.[119]
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During the 2003 offseason, San Diego signedLorenzo Neal, afullback who had blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in each of his previous six seasons, and was coming off his first Pro Bowl nomination.[120] 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.[121]
The Chargers struggled throughout the 2003 season, finishing 4–12.[122] 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 atrick play, as well as rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown in a loss to theOakland Raiders.[123] In week 6 against theCleveland Browns, he rushed 26 times for 200 yards and a touchdown while leading the Chargers to their first win of the year;[124] in total, Tomlinson accounted for 221 of the Chargers' 289 yards in the 26–20 victory.[125] He was named AFC Offensive Player of the week for his game against the Browns.[126] In week 10, against theMinnesota Vikings, he had 16 carries for 162 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 42–28 victory.[127] The top two receiving performances of his career (measured by yards) arrived back-to-back in weeks 14 and 15;[128] he had nine catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns against theDetroit Lions,[129] and 11 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns against theGreen Bay Packers.[130] 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 (excludingquarterback kneels).[131][h] In the same game, he improved upon his franchise record with 243 yards from 31 carries, with two touchdowns.[133] This would remain Tomlinson's career high.[128]
Tomlinson finished with 1,645 rushing yards, third-most in the league.[134] 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.[111] His receiving numbers were career highs: 100 receptions, 725 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns.[111] The 100 receptions placed him fourth in the league; the rest of the top ten were all wide receivers.[135] He brokeTony Martin's franchise record of 90 receptions in1995.[i] Tomlinson had 2,370 yards from scrimmage, leading the league;[137] it was the second-highest total in NFL history up to that point.[j] He had five games with at least 200 yards from scrimmage during the season, another league record.[139] Tomlinson scored 17 total touchdowns, tied for third in the league and another new career high.[140]
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."[141] However, he was named a Second-team Associated Press All-Pro for the second season in a row,[142] and was runner-up toJamal Lewis for theAP Offensive Player of the Year Award with eight votes.[143][144]
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.[145]
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.[146] He again had a big performance against theOakland Raiders, rushing 37 times for 164 yards and a touchdown during a 23–17 victory in week 10.[147] San Diego clinched theAFC West division in week 15, with a 21–0 win in the snow over theCleveland Browns; it was their first playoff berth since1995, ending an eight-year drought.[148][149] 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."[150]
Tomlinson's yardage numbers were down from the previous season, with 1,335 rushing (7th in the league)[151] and 441 receiving, in part because he was rested in the regular season finale,[152] though his yards per carry dropped significantly to 3.9, and he had barely half as many receptions with 53.[111] However, he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for the first time with 17.[151] His 1,776 scrimmage yards were tied for fifth in the league, while his 18 total touchdowns ranked second.[153] Tomlinson earned his second Pro Bowl nomination, and rewarded his offensive line with an expenses-paid trip toHawaii, the site of the game.[154] He was voted Associated Press First-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.[155]
Tomlinson's first playoff experience came in 2004.[150] San Diego hosted theNew York Jets in the first round of the playoffs,losing 20–17 in overtime.[156] Tomlinson rushed 26 times for 80 yards, and caught nine passes for 53 yards, scoring no touchdowns. During thesudden-death overtime period, San Diego gained a first down at the New York 22; Tomlinson ran three times for no gain before rookie kickerNate Kaeding came in for a game-winning field goal attempt. Kaeding missed wide right, and New York drove for the winning points.[157] Schottenheimer was criticized after the game for playing too conservatively with the three Tomlinson runs.[158]
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 byJohn Riggins andGeorge Rogers.[159][k] He tied and later broke the record in the first two weeks of the season, though the Chargers lost both games.[161][162] In week 3, Tomlinson rushed 21 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns and threw a 26-yard touchdown toKeenan McCardell as San Diego defeated theNew York Giants 45–23.[163] He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Giants.[164] After scoring in the next two games, Tomlinson entered week 6 looking to tieLenny Moore's NFL record of 18 consecutive regular season games with a touchdown of any type.[165] In the game, a 27–14 win against theOakland Raiders, Tomlinson tied the record and became the tenth player in NFL history torun, catch, and throw for a touchdown in the same game.[166][167] He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against Oakland.[168][169]
Tomlinson's touchdown streak came to an end the following week, as he was shut down in a 20–17 loss against thePhiladelphia Eagles, gaining only seven yards from 17 carries.[170] It would be the only game in his career where Tomlinson had at least ten carries and averaged below a yard per attempt.[128] 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."[170] Tomlinson threw his third touchdown pass of the season the following week against theKansas City Chiefs,[171] and had the first four-touchdown game of his career in a 31–26 win over theNew York Jets, with three rushing touchdowns and one receiving.[172] He was the first Charger sinceChuck Muncie in1981 to score four in a game.[173] 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 theWashington Redskins.[174] For his game against Washington, Tomlinson earned his third AFC Offensive Player of the Week nomination of 2005.[175] After the game, Schottenheimer declared him the finest running back he'd ever seen.[176] 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.[177] He was carrying an injury for much of this period, after picking up a rib injury in week 13 against the Raiders.[178] His ribs were initially described as bruised, but later revealed to have been cracked.[179]
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Tomlinson's rushing totals were 1,462 yards and 18 touchdowns, ranking sixth and third in the league respectively.[180] With two receiving touchdowns, he had 20 in total;[111] this brokeChuck Muncie's franchise record, set in 1981.[179] He ranked third in the league, behindSeattle Seahawks running backShaun Alexander, who set a new NFL record with 28.[181][182] Tomlinson again made the Pro Bowl,[183] and was named an Associated Press second-team All-Pro.[184]
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 managerA. J. Smith broke down, Brees was allowed to leave in free agency, paving the way for2004 No. 4 overall draft pickPhilip Rivers to take over.[185][186] 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."[187] However, Tomlinson would suggest in a 2016 interview withESPN that the switch cost San Diego a Super Bowl win, stating that Rivers was too inexperienced at the time.[188]
The Chargers began their regular season with a 27–0 win against theOakland Raiders, with Tomlinson rushing 31 times for 131 yards and a touchdown.[189] The following week, in a 40–7 victory over theTennessee Titans, he scored twice to tieLance Alworth's franchise record of 83 touchdowns.[190][191] Following abye week, Tomlinson was kept out the end zone in week 4 (a 16–13 loss against theBaltimore Ravens)[192] and week 5 (a 23–13 win over thedefending Super Bowl championPittsburgh Steelers, in which he gained a season-low 36 rushing yards).[193][194] While he only ran for 71 yards on 21 carries the following week against theSan Francisco 49ers, Tomlinson had four rushing touchdowns, tying the Charger single-game record ofClarence Williams and Chuck Muncie while moving ahead of Alworth on the career total touchdowns list.[195][196][197] In the following game, he caught one touchdown and threw for another as San Diego erased a 14-point, 4th-quarter deficit against theKansas City Chiefs, though they went on to lose 30–27 to a late field goal.[198]
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.[194] He began the sequence against theSt. Louis Rams, rushing for 183 yards and two touchdowns, adding a further 57 receiving yards and a third touchdown, and recovering a lateonside kick attempt by the Rams in the 38–24 victory.[199] In the following game against theCleveland 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.[194] He again recovered a late onside kick attempt by the opposition in the 32–25 victory.[200] He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Browns.[201][202] In week 10, San Diego trailed theCincinnati Bengals 21–0 after a single quarter, but came back to win 49–41.[203] Tomlinson rushed for four of the Chargers' seven touchdowns, including a pair 15 seconds apart that put them ahead for the first time.[204] In week 11, they faced theDenver 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.[205] 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".[206] 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 byJim Brown andEmmitt Smith.[207] He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Broncos.[208][209] 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 toAntonio Gates.[210] After running for 178 yards and two touchdowns in a 24–21 victory against theBuffalo Bills, he had 26 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns on the season, only two behind the record Alexander had established in 2005.[211][212]
"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."
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.[214] A fumble recovery byShawne Merriman soon afterward gave San Diego the ball on the Denver seven-yard line.[213] The next play was designed as an inside run, but Tomlinson broke to the left after his lead blocker Neal slipped over.[215] 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.[213] Tomlinson was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his effort against the Broncos.[214][216] After his retirement, Tomlinson listed the game as his most memorable with the Chargers.[215]
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.[194] His first touchdown took him pastPaul 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;[217] that was his 28th rushing touchdown of the season, passing Alexander andPriest Holmes, and also gave him multiple touchdowns in eight consecutive games, breaking a tie with Riggins.[218] 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 theSeattle Seahawks,[219] though he did extend his streak of 100-yard rushing games to a franchise-record nine.[l] In the regular season finale against theArizona 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;[221] that was still enough to give him theNFL rushing title, the first Charger to accomplish the feat.[m][223]
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Tomlinson led the league with 1,815 rushing yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and scoring a record 28 rushing touchdowns.[224] 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.[111] Tomlinson ranked second in the NFL with 2,323 yards from scrimmage; he had 404 touches in total, fumbling only twice.[225] 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.[226] Including his two passing touchdowns, Tomlinson was directly involved with 33 of their league-leading 59 touchdowns.[227]
On January 5, 2007, Tomlinson was named theAssociated 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.[228] 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.[228] Other organizations to name Tomlinson the NFL MVP included thePro Football Writers of America,[229] theSporting News,[230] and theMaxwell Football Club via theBert Bell Award.[231] The Associated Press also honored him as theOffensive Player of the Year and a unanimous 1st-Team All-Pro.[232] Tomlinson was also named co-winner of theWalter Payton Man of the Year Award alongside Brees, now quarterback of theNew Orleans Saints,[233] and was voted to his fourth Pro Bowl.[234] On July 11, 2007, Tomlinson won fourESPY Awards including Male Athlete of the Year.[235]
Tomlinson's second playoff game came at home in thedivisional playoffs against theNew 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.[236] 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.[237] After the game, the usually mild-mannered Tomlinson shouted at New England players celebrating on the Chargers midfield logo atQualcomm Stadium by mocking Merriman'ssack dance, and suggested Patriots head coachBill 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.[236] 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.[238]
| Week number | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Divisional playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Receiving | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Passing | 1 | 1 |
Tomlinson and other Chargers defended Schottenheimer after their swift exit from the 2006 playoffs,[239]but Schottenheimer was nonetheless fired by team presidentDean Spanos on February 12, 2007.[240] A dysfunctional relationship between Schottenheimer and general managerA. J. Smith was among the reasons given by Spanos.[241]Norv Turner, who was the San Diego Chargersoffensive 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.[242]
Tomlinson struggled for much of the opening game, finishing with 17 carries for only 25 yards.[243] However, he did throw the seventh and final touchdown pass of his career (a 17-yarder to Gates),[244] and scored once himself as San Diego beat theChicago Bears 14–3.[245] In week 2, they travelled to New England for a rematch of the Divisional Round with theNew England Patriots. It was the first game the Patriots played after being sanctioned for theSpygate 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.'"[246] New England won the game 38–14, with Tomlinson rushing 18 times for 43 yards.[247] In week 6, he again had a big game against theOakland Raiders, rushing 24 times for 198 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.[248] That would be one of only two 100-yard rushing performances in the first eleven games for Tomlinson,[249] who ranked only sixth in the league for rushing yardage with five games to go.[250]
In a week 12 win against theKansas City Chiefs, Tomlinson gained 177 yards on 23 carries and scored twice, passingWalter Payton on the all-time career rushing touchdown list with his 111th.[251] A day later, Tomlinson honored Payton by wearing his jersey during a press conference.[251] The following week, San Diego trailed 17–3 against theTennessee 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.[252] It was the third overtime touchdown of his career, a record.[253] 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.[249] While he only gained 56 yards in the regular season finale against the Oakland Raiders,[254] 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.[255][256]
Tomlinson was involved in a pair of sideline incidents with Rivers over the course of the season. In an early-season loss to theGreen Bay Packers, the two appeared to argue on the sideline; Tomlinson dismissed the interaction as "competitive talk".[257] Later, during the overtime win in Tennessee, Tomlinson got up and walked away immediately after Rivers sat near to him on the bench.[258] Both players downplayed the incident, with Tomlinson explaining that he had left because he had just finished a conversation with Neal.[259]
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,[260] and became the first player sinceEdgerrin James in1999 and2000 to win back-to-back rushing titles.[261] During that year, Tomlinson became the 23rd player to reach 10,000 rushing yards in NFL history, as well as the fourth fastest,[262] while his career-opening streak of seven consecutive seasons with at least 1,200 rushing yards had previously been achieved only byEric Dickerson.[263] 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.[264] Tomlinson was nominated for his fifth and final Pro Bowl and, unanimously, his third and final AP 1st-Team All-Pro squad.[265][111] He was also awarded theBart Starr Award for his work on and off the field.[266]
Tomlinson had 21 carries for 42 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown and caught three passes for 19 receiving yards in the Chargers' 17–6Wild Card Round victory over the Tennessee Titans.[267] 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.[268] It was the Chargers' first playoff win since the1994 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."[267] 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 28–24Divisional Round win against theIndianapolis Colts.[269] The injury proved to be amedial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain.[270][271]
Tomlinson attempted to play through his injury in the following week'sAFC 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.[272] The Chargers lost to theNew England Patriots, 21–12.[270][273] 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.[274][275] Hall of Fame ex-NFL cornerbackDeion Sanders, then working for theNFL 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."[276] 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.[274] 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."[277]
Neal, who had missed time in 2007 with a brokenfibula, was released by the Chargers during the offseason, leaving rookiesMike Tolbert andJacob Hester to serve as Tomlinson's lead blockers.[278][279] Tomlinson himself declared his knee to 100% recovered after offseason rehabilitation,[280] but jammed his big toe during an opening day 26–24 loss to theCarolina Panthers.[281] The new injury persisted throughout the season.[282] 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.[283][284] That was one of only two 100-rushing performances by Tomlinson all season.[285] 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 againstDenver for the AFC West title.[286][287][288] 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.[128][289] However, he picked up a groin injury while scoring the last touchdown and again entered the playoffs carrying an injury.[290]
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.[291][111] His 344 touches, 1,536 scrimmage yards, and 12 total touchdowns also represented a clear drop from the previous season.[292] The Charger offense became more focused on Rivers, who led the league in touchdowns andpasser rating while throwing for over 4,000 yards.[293][294]
In theWild Card Round against theColts, Tomlinson rushed five times for 25 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown before his groin injury forced him out of the game.[295][296] His replacementDarren Sproles ran for over 100 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime as San Diego won 23–17.[297] 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.[298] The following week, Tomlinson was unable to play at all in the Chargers'Divisional Round game inPittsburgh, a 35–24 defeat.[299]
"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."
The offseason began with contract negotiations for Tomlinson, as Smith and Spanos hoped to restructure his existing contract and free up moresalary cap space.[301] 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.[302] 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.[303] 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."[304]
In week 1, Tomlinson rushed 13 times for 55 yards inOakland, with a touchdown and a lost fumble in the 24–20 victory.[305][306] It would be the only time all season that he averaged over four yards per carry in a game.[307] He suffered an ankle injury in the Oakland game and missed the next two weeks while recovering.[308] In his first game back, he rushed seven times for 15 yards in a 38–28 loss atPittsburgh.[309][310] His most productive rushing performance came in week 10 againstPhiladelphia, when he ran 24 times for 96 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 31–23 victory.[311] The touchdowns gave him a total of 146 for his career, passingMarcus Allen for third place in NFL history.[312] In week 13, Tomlinson scored his 150th career touchdown in a 30–23 win atCleveland; he was the quickest to reach that milestone, doing so in his 137th game.[313] He rushed for 64 yards in the game, enough to lift him past bothMarshall Faulk and former Cleveland BrownJim Brown into eighth place on the career rushing yardage list.[314][315] 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.[300]
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).[111] 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.[316] That gave him nine consecutive 10-touchdown seasons, a record.[317] San Diego's offensive line was impacted by injuries during the season,[318][319][320] 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.[321] 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.[322][323] Tomlinson stated that he had accepted his reduced role in the team.[324]
Tomlinson's last playoff game with the Chargers was similar to his first: a three-point defeat at home against theNew 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.[325] He was booed by Chargers fans after what would be his final carry for the team, a 1-yard gain in the final quarter.[326][327] He said of the defeat, "To lose this game, I'm at a loss for words."[325]
On January 31, Tomlinson was named to theNFL's 2000s All-Decade Team after leading the league with 12,490 rushing yards in the 2000s, 1,797 more than runner-upEdgerrin James.[328] 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.[329][330] 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.[331]
The Chargers released Tomlinson on February 22, 2010, after nine seasons with the team.[332] Many experts attributed his decline to his age (30) and injuries.[332][333] 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;[333] 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."[334]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, includingEmmitt Smith's three NFL rushing titles.[319] A. J. Smith commented, “It’s the team that will win a world championship, not a bunch of individuals.”[335] 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.[336]
"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."
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.[338] After theNew York Jets andMinnesota 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.[339] He was expected to back up second-year running backShonn Greene;[340] the Jets had released five-time 1,000 yard rusherThomas Jones the previous month when he refused to take a pay cut to serve as Greene's backup.[341] Tomlinson chose to sign with New York because of his familiarity with the system of offensive coordinatorBrian Schottenheimer, his enthusiasm for the defense- and run-focussed philosophy of head coachRex Ryan, and because he felt that the team offered him the best chance to win a championship.[334] He added that he believed he and Green would form a successful partnership.[342]
The Jets lost 10–9 to theBaltimore 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.[343] In week 4, Tomlinson recorded his first 100-yard rushing game in nearly two years against theBuffalo Bills, running 19 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns in the 38–14 victory.[344] He said of the performance, "I never lost confidence. I always knew I could do it. It was just about having an opportunity."[345] For his game against the Bills, Tomlinson earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week.[346] Tomlinson's first five games of the season were his most productive in terms of rushing yards,[347] as he ranked fifth in the league with 435 yards at 5.7 yards per carry.[348]
While Tomlinson's output reduced over the remainder of the season,[347] 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.[111] 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.[349] He did score less frequently than in any of his seasons in San Diego, with only six touchdowns.[111] 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).[350][351][352][353] He continued to move up the NFL's career rushing yardage leaderboard during the season, passingTony Dorsett andEric Dickerson to reach sixth place.[345][354] He received theDennis Byrd Award as the Jets' most inspirational player after a vote of his teammates.[355]
The Jets opened their postseason campaign with a 17–16 win atIndianapolis in theAFC Wild Card Round. Tomlinson rushed 16 times for 82 and both Jets touchdowns, and New York won on a 23-yardNick Folk field goal as time expired.[356] Tomlinson recorded his best rushing output since week 5.[347] Next, the Jets travelled toNew England for theDivisional Round. They were heavy underdogs, having lost 45–3 to the Patriots in week 13;[357][358][354] 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 fromMark Sanchez in a 28–21 win.[359] In theAFC Championship Game against thePittsburgh 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.[360] The Jets went on to lose 24–19; Tomlinson finished with nine carries for 16 rushing yards.[361]
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Jets general managerMike Tannenbaum said after the 2010 season that he expected Tomlinson back for 2011 but "things could change."[362] 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.[363] In the season-opening win over theDallas Cowboys, he rushed only five times for 16 rushing yards but caught six passes for 73 receiving yards in the 27–24 victory.[364] 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.[365] 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,[128] catching five passes for 116 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in a 34–24 loss atOakland to continue the pattern of success against the Raiders he had established as a Charger.[366] In the game against Oakland, Tomlinson tied his career-high for longest receiving play with a 74-yard reception.[367] In week 7, he faced hisformer 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."[368]
In week 10 againstNew England, Tomlinson passedBarry Sanders (18,190 yards) for fifth on the all time yards from scrimmage list,[369] though he picked up amedial collateral ligament (MCL) injury during that game and missed the next two contests against Denver and Buffalo.[370][371] 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.[217] In week 14, the Jets defeated theKansas City Chiefs 37–10 to improve their record to 8–5,[372] but lost their following two games to thePhiladelphia Eagles and theNew York Giants, and needed to win their regular season finale atMiami to have any chance of making the playoffs.[373] In the game, Tomlinson had his most rushing attempts (11) and yards (56) of the season, adding 4 catches for 23 yards.[128] However, New York lost to Miami by a score of 19–17, ending their season.[374] Tomlinson made a final move up the career rushing yards leaderboard during the game, passingJerome Bettis (13,662) for fifth place.[375]
Tomlinson finished his final season with 75 carries for 280 rushing yards and a single rushing touchdown, all career lows.[376] 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.[377][378] 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.[111] His teammates again voted him the winner of the Dennis Byrd Award.[379]
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.[374] On May 11, Tomlinson returned toQualcomm Stadium in San Diego to speak at a memorial for former ChargerJunior Seau, who had been a positive influence on Tomlinson during his rookie season.[380][215] On June 18, he signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the San Diego Chargers and then immediately announced his retirement.[381] Chargers presidentDean Spanos said that no other Charger would ever wear Tomlinson's No. 21.[382]
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."[382]
At the time of his retirement, Tomlinson ranked fifth in NFL history in career rushing attempts (3,174)[383] andyards (13,684), and second incareer rushing touchdowns (145).[382] He had 47 100-yard rushing games, and three 100-yard receiving games.[128] He also ranked third for receptions by a running back, catching 624 passes for 4,772 yards and a further 17 touchdowns.[384] Overall, he ranked fourth in career touches (3,798), fifth in yards from scrimmage (18,456), and third in total touchdowns (162).[385][382] 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.[386] Completing his reputation as a versatile back,[387] 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.[388] 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.[389][128][390]
Tomlinson was noted for consistently playing well against the Oakland Raiders.[248][391] 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.[392]
An elusive runner in the open field who would usestiff arms to break tackles,[393] Tomlinson was also effective as a power back on inside runs.[394] In goal-line situations, he would often leap directly over the line of scrimmage to score.[196] 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.[395] When scoring, Tomlinson would frequently perform his own "teardrop" celebration,[396] placing his left hand behind his head and flipping the ball with his right.[397] He was often known by his initials, L.T., a nickname he shared with Hall of FameNew York Giants linebackerLawrence Taylor.[398]
In 2005, Schottenheimer described Tomlinson as the finest running back he'd seen, arguing that past greats such as Jim Brown andGale Sayers hadn't had to contend with defenders of the same size and speed.[176] When Tomlinson's number was retired in 2015, a trio of analysts onNFL.com placed him 3rd, 7th, and 8th respectively on their lists of top running backs in the Super Bowl era.[399][400] In 2021, the statistical sitePro-Football-Reference.com ranked him as the fifth-best running back in NFL history.[401] An NFL Network show,The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players, aired in 2010 and ranked Tomlinson No. 61 among all positions,[402] while a 2019USA Today poll placed him at No. 54.[403] However, he was not among the ten running backs named to theNFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.[404]
TheChargers formally retired his number in 2015, while also inducting him into theirHall of Fame.[405] Tomlinson was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, his first year of eligibility.[406] After thanking his family, as well as former coaches and teammates, Tomlinson spoke about his ancestors who had worked as slaves in a plantation inTomlinson 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."[3]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| APNFL MVP &OPOTY | |
| NFL record | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Passing | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
| 2006 | SD | 16 | 16 | 348 | 1,815 | 5.2 | 85 | 28 | 56 | 508 | 9.1 | 51 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 125.0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2007 | SD | 16 | 16 | 315 | 1,474 | 4.7 | 49 | 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 |
| 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 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Career | 10 | 10 | 131 | 468 | 3.6 | 23 | 6 | 25 | 176 | 7.0 | 58 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
The Chargers credit Tomlinson with numerous records. Career figures discount his two seasons with the New York Jets.
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 After Words interview with Chris Tomlinson onTomlinson Hill, conducted by Lavar Tomlinson, June 23, 2014,C-SPAN |
Tomlinson is a Christian.[436] Tomlinson was introduced to his future wife, LaTorsha Oakley, while the two were students at TCU.[437] The couple married on March 21, 2003,[438] and have two children: a son born in 2010 and a daughter in 2011.[439][363] In 2007, Tomlinson's father Oliver Tomlinson and brother-in-law Ronald McClain died in an auto accident.[440][441]
During his playing career, Tomlinson was featured in commercials forNike,[442]Campbell Soup,[443] andVizio.[444] In April 2007,CNBC reported that Tomlinson turned down a request to become the cover athlete forEA Sports'Madden NFL 08 video game, as the money offered was not enough to justify the promotional work involved.[445]
In August 2012, Tomlinson joined the cast of NFL Network's Sunday morning show "First on the Field" as an analyst.[446] As of 2022, he is still with the network.[447] He covers Chargers preseason games as an analyst withCBS.[448]
Tomlinson wrote the foreword for Chris Tomlinson's bookTomlinson Hill, which traces the story of two families—one white and one black—from a plantation inTomlinson Hill, Texas. Theplantation was owned by Chris' great-great-grandparents, while LaDainian descended from a slave owned by Chris' ancestors.[449] In 2016, Tomlinson was cast in the feature filmGod Bless the Broken Road.[450][451] While originally announced for a 2016 release, it was finally released in September 2018.[450]
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.[452] The charity was cited as a reason for Tomlinson receiving theBart Starr Award in 2008.[266]
In 2017, theLos 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.[453]
Tomlinson's nephew,Tre Tomlinson, followed in his footsteps by playing at TCU, where he earnedAll-Big 12 honors three times playing cornerback and won theJim Thorpe Award in 2022 as the nation's best defensive back.[454] Tre was drafted in the sixth round of the2023 NFL draft by theLos Angeles Rams.[455]
LaDainian Tomlinson: 7th career postseason TD, most among all active running backs.
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.
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| National | |
| Other | |
