LaDainian Tomlinson biography
LaDainian Tomlinson, byname L.T., (born June 23, 1979, Rosebud, Texas, U.S.), American skilled gridiron soccer participant who was probably the most productive operating backs in National Football League (NFL) historical past.
Tomlinson attended highschool in Waco, Texas, the place he earned second-team all-state honours his senior season however was principally neglected by the foremost school soccer packages. He selected to attend Texas Christian University (TCU) in close by Fort Worth, and in each his junior and senior years at TCU he was collegiate soccer’s main rusher. He completed fourth within the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 2000 and was chosen by the San Diego Chargers with the fifth general decide within the first spherical of the NFL draft in 2001.
At 1.77 metres (5 toes 10 inches) and about 100 kg (220 kilos), Tomlinson was thought-about small for an NFL operating again. But what he lacked in measurement, he made up for with a hard-nosed operating type and terrific pace within the open area. He was additionally probably the most versatile gamers within the recreation, gaining greater than 1,200 dashing yards—in addition to making greater than 50 cross receptions—in every of his first seven seasons. In 2003 Tomlinson turned the one NFL participant ever to hurry for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the identical season, and he was one among solely seven gamers within the historical past of the league to have run, caught, and handed for a landing in a single recreation.
In 2006 Tomlinson led the league in dashing yards and broke each Shaun Alexander’s document for many touchdowns scored in a single season (31) and the 46-year-old document for many single-season factors scored (186). Earlier within the season Tomlinson had reached one other milestone when he scored the one centesimal landing of his NFL profession, conducting the feat in simply 89 video games—faster than anybody else in league historical past. Tomlinson’s success led to his choice because the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2006 season. His landmark yr propelled the Chargers to a 14–2 document in 2006—the most effective within the NFL—however they have been upset of their first play-off recreation by the New England Patriots. Tomlinson led the NFL in dashing yards and dashing touchdowns once more within the 2007 season, and he helped the Chargers advance to the American Football Conference championship recreation in January 2008. However, his numbers declined over the next two seasons, and in 2010 he was launched by San Diego. He then signed a free-agent contract with the New York Jets. Tomlinson performed two seasons with the Jets, and he retired in 2012—after having signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Chargers—with 162 profession touchdowns, the third highest whole in NFL historical past on the time of his retirement. In 2017 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.