LA Chargers: Other Charger greats that finished their career elsewhere
By Jason Reed
1. LaDainian Tomlinson
- Two seasons with the New York Jets
It still irks me to see LaDainian Tomlinson wearing a New York Jets jersey to this day. Tomlinson has already been retired as a Charger, went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Charger and is now enjoying a second career with the game as an analyst for NFL Network.
LT will probably always be my favorite Charger of all-time. He hit that sweet spot where he was in his prime and breaking records right when I was in getting into football with my dad, who is a diehard Charger fan.
He is the Chargers’ all-time leader in every rushing category and ranks high in the all-time career ranks as well. He holds the record for the most touchdowns in a single season with 28 and is second all-time in career rushing touchdowns.
Tomlinson is seventh all-time in rushing yards and sixth all-time in yards from scrimmage. 12,490 of his career rushing yards came with the Chargers.
So how did he do with the Jets? Well, the first year was actually a pretty big success for him in New York. LT played in 15 games that season and finished with 914 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, both great marks for his age.
His second season was not as successful as while he played in 14 games, he became a rotational back and only carried the ball 75 times for 215 yards and one touchdown.
Most importantly, Tomlinson got one last chance at a Super Bowl in New York in the 2010 season as the Jets made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game and would not have made it without Tomlinson’s efforts in the Wild Card Round, where he carried the ball 16 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
He also scored the Jets’ first touchdown in the Divisional Round via a seven-yard pass from Mark Sanchez.