- Byname:
- L.T.
- Born:
- June 23, 1979, Rosebud, Texas, U.S. (age 47)
- Awards And Honors:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2017)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2017)
- 3 All-Pro selections
- 5 Pro Bowl selections
- 1 NFL Most Valuable Player award
- 2006 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year
- 2006 Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year)
- 2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year
- Education:
- Texas Christian University
- Height/Weight:
- 5 ft 10 inches, 215 lb (1.78 m, 97 kg)
- Position:
- running back
- Jersey Number:
- 21 (San Diego Chargers, 2001â2009)
- 21 (New York Jets, 2010â2011)
- Draft:
- Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2001 NFL draft.
- Games Played:
- 170
- Rushing Attempts:
- 3174
- Touchdowns:
- 145
- Yards Gained By Passing:
- 13684
- Yards Per Attempt:
- 4.3
LaDainian Tomlinson
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Who is LaDainian Tomlinson?
LaDainian Tomlinson, born on June 23, 1979, is a former American professional football player. Known as one of the most productive running backs in NFL history, he played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU) where he was the nation's leading rusher in both his junior and senior years.
Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001, Tomlinson quickly became known for his hard-nosed running style and versatility. In 2003, he achieved the unique feat of rushing for 1,000 yards and catching 100 passes in the same season. In 2006, he set the record for most touchdowns scored in a single season and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
For which teams did LaDainian Tomlinson play in the NFL?
LaDainian Tomlinson, one of the NFL's most productive running backs, played for two teams during his career. Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001, he played with them from 2001 to 2009. After being released by the Chargers, Tomlinson signed with the New York Jets, where he played for two seasons, 2010 and 2011. After signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Chargers, Tomlinson retired in 2012. In 2017, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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What position did LaDainian Tomlinson play?
LaDainian Tomlinson was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). At 5 feet 10 inches and about 220 pounds, he was considered small for an NFL running back, but he made up for it with a hard-nosed running style and terrific speed. In 2003, he became the only NFL player to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season. In 2006, Tomlinson was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. He retired in 2012 with 162 career touchdowns and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
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What records or achievements did LaDainian Tomlinson earn in his career?
LaDainian Tomlinson is among the most productive running backs in NFL history. In college, he was the leading rusher in both his junior and senior years. The San Diego Chargers drafted him fifth overall in 2001.
Key achievements and records:
* 2003: Only NFL player to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season
* 2006: Broke the record for most touchdowns scored in a single season (31) and the 46-year-old record for most single-season points scored (186)
* Fastest player to reach 100 career touchdowns
* 2006: NFL Most Valuable Player
* 2007: Led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns
* 2017: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of FameHe had 162 career touchdowns, the third highest total in NFL history at the time of his retirement.
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How did LaDainian Tomlinson impact his teams and the NFL?
LaDainian Tomlinson, drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001, significantly impacted his teams and the NFL through his versatility and exceptional performance. Despite being considered small for an NFL running back at 5 feet 10 inches and 220 pounds, Tomlinson's hard-nosed running style and speed led to his selection as the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 2006.
That year, he broke the record for most touchdowns in a single season with 31 and scored the most single-season points with 186, propelling the Chargers to a league-best 14â2 record. Tomlinson also led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 2007 and helped the Chargers advance to the American Football Conference championship game in January 2008. His ability to rush for over 1,000 yards and make 50+ receptions in his first seven seasons demonstrates his all-around skill. In 2003, he was the first NFL player to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season. Tomlinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What did LaDainian Tomlinson do after retiring from professional football?
After retiring from professional football in 2012, following a ceremonial one-day contract with the Chargers, LaDainian Tomlinson had amassed 162 career touchdowns, then the third-highest in NFL history. In 2017, Tomlinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
LaDainian Tomlinson (born June 23, 1979, Rosebud, Texas, U.S.) is an American professional gridiron football player who was one of the most productive running backs in National Football League (NFL) history.
Tomlinson attended high school in Waco, Texas, where he earned second-team all-state honours his senior season but was mostly overlooked by the major college football programs. He chose to attend Texas Christian University (TCU) in nearby Fort Worth, and in both his junior and senior years at TCU he was collegiate footballâs leading rusher. He finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 2000 and was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft in 2001.
At 1.77 metres (5 feet 10 inches) and about 100 kg (220 pounds), Tomlinson was considered small for an NFL running back. But what he lacked in size, he made up for with a hard-nosed running style and terrific speed in the open field. He was also one of the most versatile players in the game, gaining more than 1,200 rushing yardsâas well as making more than 50 pass receptionsâin each of his first seven seasons. In 2003 Tomlinson became the only NFL player ever to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season, and he was one of only seven players in the history of the league to have run, caught, and passed for a touchdown in a single game.
In 2006 Tomlinson led the league in rushing yards and broke both Shaun Alexanderâs record for most touchdowns scored in one season (31) and the 46-year-old record for most single-season points scored (186). Earlier in the season Tomlinson had reached another milestone when he scored the 100th touchdown of his NFL career, accomplishing the feat in just 89 gamesâquicker than anyone else in league history. Tomlinsonâs success led to his selection as the NFLâs Most Valuable Player for the 2006 season. His landmark year propelled the Chargers to a 14â2 record in 2006âthe best in the NFLâbut they were upset in their first play-off game by the New England Patriots. Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns again in the 2007 season, and he helped the Chargers advance to the American Football Conference championship game in January 2008. However, his numbers declined over the following two seasons, and in 2010 he was released by San Diego. He then signed a free-agent contract with the New York Jets. Tomlinson played two seasons with the Jets, and he retired in 2012âafter having signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Chargersâwith 162 career touchdowns, the third highest total in NFL history at the time of his retirement. In 2017 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.