The NFL Running Backs Mount Rushmore of the Super Bowl Era
By Erik Lambert
LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers)
From the time he was drafted in 2001 to the day he retired, there was probably not a more feared running back in the NFL than LaDainian Tomlinson.
Tomlinson was the fifth overall pick of the Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft after they traded out of the top spot with the Atlanta Falcons, who wanted to move up for Michael Vick.
The Chargers took Tomlinson with their top pick, and Drew Brees with the top pick of the second round.
Not a bad start to the draft, right?
In nine of Tomlinson’s 11 NFL seasons, he finished with at least 1,200 all-purpose yards. He also had three seasons with over 2,000 all-purpose yards and nearly a fourth.
In 2006, Tomlinson was literally unstoppable, racking up 28 rushing touchdowns and three more receiving touchdowns.
He played at such a high level for such a long time, it became more about how teams could limit his damage on a week-to-week basis rather than any sort of effort to actually stop him.
Tomlinson probably could have played professional football as a wide receiver as well, showing some of the softest hands ever from the running back position.
He was a generational talent at the position.