LaDainian Tomlinson entered the NFL in 2001. He would not fall short of 1,000 rushing yards per season until 2009, when he notched a respectable 730.
On Monday, June 18, 2012, LT will ceremonially rejoin the Chargers so that he may retire as a member of the San Diego franchise. He will be capping a career that included 162 touchdowns, 624 receptions, and 13,684 yards rushing.
LT is considered by many analysts to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Their projections are likely correct.
But like many top NFL stars, especially running backs, Tomlinson did not embody the Neil Young adage, "It's better to burn out, than fade away."
An unstoppable force on the Chargers, LT teamed first with Drew Brees and then Phillip Rivers to establish San Diego as perennial Super Bowl contenders.
After a down 2005 season, the Chargers regrouped and earned a 14-2 regular season record in 2006 and entered the postseason as the top seed in the AFC. Unfortunately for the Bolts, they would begin the still thriving trend of top seeded teams falling after only one playoff contest. Following a heartbreaking loss to New England, the Chargers rebounded in 2007 and found their way to the AFC Championship game.
Given an opportunity to knock off the then undefeated Patriots and earn a trip to the Super Bowl, the Chargers came up short once more against Tom Brady & Co. Their failure drew heated criticism upon LT who sat out the majority of the game due to what many felt was an injury that he could have played through given the circumstances.
LT would never earn another opportunity to reach the Super Bowl, even after leaving San Diego to join the well-stocked Jets in 2010. Expected to be the AFC representatives in the Super Bowl that season, the Jets also fell short of expectations. Before they imploded in 2011, Tomlinson's role had already been significantly reduced.
Tomlinson's decision to retire after only 11 years in the league is a wise one. While the length of his career may be a tad short for a guaranteed Hall of Famer at any other position, recent history shows that a running back's prime does not usually enjoy a steady decline, but rather severe drop off. After one year of wading in anonymity as a reserve, it's time for the countdown to start towards his Canton eligibility.
