LT Retires as a Charger

LaDainian Tomlinson signed with the San Diego Chargers earlier today and then announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the NFL, nine of them spent with the Chargers.

LaDainian Tomlinson is hoisted by teammates after breaking NFL scoring record with his 29th  touchdown in 2006.

Regarded as one of the best running backs ever, LT burst onto the scene in 2001 as a rookie and helped to propel the Chargers back to the top of the AFC West division, where the Chargers won five division titles from 2004-09, including four consecutive titles from 2006 until 2009.
Tomlinson's biggest individual season came in 2006, when he won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and ran for 1,815 yards (5.2 yards per carry average) and scored an NFL record 186 points in a single season.
 Tomlinson scored 28 rushing touchdowns that season, which is the NFL record and scored 31 total touchdowns as he outscored the Oakland Raiders team by himself in the 2006 season.
He followed that up with another NFL rushing title in 2007 by running for  1,474 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns, including 15 rushing TDs to lead the league for two consecutive seasons.
For his career, LT gained 13,684 yards rushing (4.3 ypc average) and scored 162 touchdowns, which is third all time behind Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice, both Hall of Famers. Tomlinson finishes his career with 145 rushing touchdowns.
Tomlinson also caught 624 passes in his 11 seasons, including a 100 catch season in 2003, the last time the Chargers had a losing season.
San Diego never made the Super Bowl with LT, but they did come close following the 2007 season, when they finished 11-5 and then stunned the Indianapolis Colts on the road in the Divisional Round before falling, 21-12 to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Tomlinson was criticized by media and even some fans for sitting on the bench in that AFC title game after starting but coming out  because of a knee injury he suffered the week before in the win against the Colts. Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers also suffered a knee injury in the playoff win, but he played the entire game against the Patriots with a knee brace.
The 2006 Chargers finished 14-2 and enjoyed the NFL's best record in LT's record setting season, but lost to the Patriots, 24-21 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
That was a tough loss, probably the toughest loss of his career, Tomlinson would say following the game.
The depth of the Chargers' teams in the mid to late 2000's was incredible as Tomlinson had Darren Sproles and Michael Turner in the backfield along with quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. In addition, the wide receiver corps had an emerging Vincent Jackson as well as tight end Antonio Gates. Shawne Merriman anchored a solid defense at linebacker from 2005-2009.
However, the Chargers are still searching for the first Super Bowl trophy in team history, but they will be honoring LT in Canton, Ohio in five years as he is a lock to make the Hall of Fame.
Thanks for the memories.