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LACTOMLINSON21

LaDainian Tomlinson

Retired

New York Jets · RB

LaDainian Tomlinson recorded 170 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 11 rostered seasons with New York Jets, San Diego Chargers.

▶Best highlights

80.5

rush yds/gm

28.0

rec yds/gm

10

playoff games

170

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A researched consensus introduction to LaDainian Tomlinson's defining games.

Editorial methodology and sources

Cross-checked the Chargers' Hall of Fame biography and oral history of the 2006 MVP season, league scoring records, contemporary accounts, and verified archive box scores. Three selections preserve the record touchdown streak at its height; the other two show Tomlinson's unmatched versatility as both a receiver and passer before the MVP campaign.

  1. #1. Tomlinson ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns, breaking the NFL single-season touchdown record on his second score and extending it to 29 as San Diego clinched the AFC West. Chargers: Inside Tomlinson's record 2006 season
  2. #2. Tomlinson produced 179 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in Denver, becoming the fastest player to 100 career scores while leading a comeback from 17 points down. Chargers: Inside Tomlinson's record 2006 season
  3. #3. Tomlinson ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns, caught six passes, and threw a 26-yard touchdown, accounting for four scores in the fullest single-game display of his versatility. Chargers: Tomlinson elected to the Hall of Fame
  4. #4. Tomlinson scored four rushing touchdowns and accumulated 158 scrimmage yards as San Diego erased a 21-point deficit in Cincinnati during the defining scoring streak of his MVP season. Chargers: Inside Tomlinson's record 2006 season
  5. #5. Tomlinson caught 11 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns while adding 51 rushing yards, a rare 100-yard receiving day that captures why he was more than an elite runner. Chargers: Tomlinson elected to the Hall of Fame

Reviewed through 2026-08-11

Regular Season
2006
DENVERBRONCOS
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
DEC 10, 2006

Denver Broncos vs San Diego Chargers

Regular Season · Dec 10, 2006

103 rush yds · 3 rush TD · 1 rec

Regular Season
2006
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
DENVERBRONCOS
NOV 19, 2006

San Diego Chargers vs Denver Broncos

Regular Season · Nov 19, 2006

105 rush yds · 3 rush TD · 3 rec

Regular Season
2005
NEW YORKGIANTS
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
SEP 25, 2005

New York Giants vs San Diego Chargers

Regular Season · Sep 25, 2005

192 rush yds · 3 rush TD · 6 rec

Regular Season
2006
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
CINCINNATIBENGALS
NOV 12, 2006

San Diego Chargers vs Cincinnati Bengals

Regular Season · Nov 12, 2006

104 rush yds · 4 rush TD · 6 rec

Regular Season
2003
GREEN BAYPACKERS
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
DEC 14, 2003

Green Bay Packers vs San Diego Chargers

Regular Season · Dec 14, 2003

51 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 11 rec

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from LaDainian Tomlinson's indexed NFL box scores.

Career high: 243 rushing yards

Regular Season
2003
OAKLANDRAIDERS
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
DEC 28, 2003

Oakland Raiders vs San Diego Chargers

Regular Season · Dec 28, 2003

243 rush yds · 2 rush TD · 8 rec

Career high: 4 rushing touchdowns

Regular Season
2007
OAKLANDRAIDERS
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
OCT 14, 2007

Oakland Raiders vs San Diego Chargers

Regular Season · Oct 14, 2007

198 rush yds · 4 rush TD · 3 rec

Career high: 39 carries

Regular Season
2002
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
OAKLANDRAIDERS
OCT 20, 2002

San Diego Chargers vs Oakland Raiders

Regular Season · Oct 20, 2002

153 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 5 rec

Career high: 2 runs of 40+ yards

Regular Season
2003
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
NOV 9, 2003

Minnesota Vikings vs San Diego Chargers

Regular Season · Nov 9, 2003

162 rush yds · 2 rush TD · 6 rec

Career high: 148 receiving yards

Regular Season
2003
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
DETROITLIONS
DEC 7, 2003

San Diego Chargers vs Detroit Lions

Regular Season · Dec 7, 2003

88 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 9 rec

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped LaDainian Tomlinson's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

2001–2009

01
LACTOMLINSON21LaDainian Tomlinson
LACRIVERS17Philip Rivers
LACGATES85Antonio Gates

An extraordinary core dominates the regular season

Los Angeles Chargers · Tomlinson, Gates and Rivers

Tomlinson's MVP records and a loaded roster produced five division titles, but injuries and close losses repeatedly blocked a Super Bowl.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2007–2010

02
NYJTOMLINSON21LaDainian Tomlinson
NYJREVIS24Darrelle Revis
NYJSANCHEZ6Mark Sanchez

A fearless defense reaches two AFC title games

New York Jets · Revis Island and Rex Ryan

Ryan's pressure defense and an elite offensive line won four road playoff games in two seasons, twice finishing one win from the Super Bowl.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2011–present

03
NYJTOMLINSON21LaDainian Tomlinson
NYJWILKERSON96Muhammad Wilkerson
NYJWILLIAMS95Quinnen Williams

Defensive talent waits for quarterback stability

New York Jets · The playoff drought

New York continued producing excellent defenders but cycled through quarterbacks and coaches during the league's longest active postseason absence.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

First-team All-Pro · 2004, 2006, 2007NFL rushing touchdowns leader · 2004, 2006, 2007NFL rushing yards leader · 2006, 2007Pro Bowl selection · 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007NFL MVP · 2006NFL Offensive Player of the Year · 2006Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year · 200611 NFL seasons170 career games143 career passing yards7 career passing touchdowns13,686 career rushing yards145 career rushing touchdowns624 career receptions4,767 career receiving yards17 career receiving touchdowns8 career solo tacklesDrafted by: SDDraft pick: 5Jersey: 2110 playoff appearancesFirst appearance: Sep 9, 2001Most recent: Jan 1, 2012

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history