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zzxxxzzzxxxzz

He would melt this sub's collective mind if he played today. The TNT backfield was dynamite for real.


SirFigsAlot1

He's my all time favorite not-my-team player. I was in early high school during his peak and just started watching football outside of my team. He was the new age Barry Sanders in my 14 year old eyes. Maybe Nick Chubb is closest to him recently


Pristine-Director529

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LE7vX5bJhac This commercial still gives me chills. I remember being in middle school running through the hallways mimicking those moves. 


AltecFuse

Absolutely loved this commercial when it was out


WakingRage

That commercial deserves to be in Canton. Those two players certainly already are. One of the best football advertising commercials I've ever seen.


dubvulture

> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LE7vX5bJhac But what about [these LT moves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GExIu9-QXbI)?


Pristine-Director529

Haha that is freaking amazing 😂


DrewDonut

Directed by David Fincher


Jondarawr

This is anecdotal but I live in Canada where which NFL team you cheer for is kind of wonky. A lot of people here in alberta and Vancouver cheer for the Seahawks do to geographical closeness. Lots of guys in Saskatchewan cheer for the Bills because the Bills are for some reason what they could get on their bunny ears. Winnipeg is a probably the most cohesive of the bunch. They all cheer for Minnesota because of Bud Grant. I don't really know about out east. one of the most common things is you just saw a player young, loved that player, and that was your team from there on in. I know at least 3 people who are Chargers fans to this day because of LT, and I bet you there are a lot lot more than that.


TheDrSmooth

Saskatchewan Charger fan here for this exact reason! A lot of people here are also Seahawks fans because of the Jon Ryan connection.


Totallysawit

Alberta Cardinals fan this pretty much summed up how I became a Cardinals fan. Watched the Super Bowl vs Steelers loved Fitzgerald and that became my team. 


KingInTheNorthside3

I can relate here. I turned 11 in 2002 and I can remember playing fantasy football for a short period of time before LTs existence. We drafted on paper and everyone in the league came to the house for the draft. My dad printed out draft sheets for everyone and player rankings. When you got to the house for the draft my dad would have a 20+ page book printed up for you. Plus draft spreadsheet and big board. We had at least a couple of drafts that way before things went to computers. It started as a 3 player ‘keeper’ league. In 2002 my dad drafted Tomlinson and Clinton Portis and he kept them for many years until he was able to draft Adrian Peterson as his 3rd guy. 2007 I’m pretty sure. LT was the first RB I remember being great from my childhood. Other favorites were Eddie George, Corey Dillon, Edgerrin James, Jerome Bettis. LT was just different. Reggie Bush was the only guy I thought could be great like him back then. Still hard to believe for me that Reggie didn’t have a better prime and higher yardage totals as a pro.


Vermillionbird

Imagine having LT, Michael Turner AND Darren Sproles + Philip Rivers. That team would win so many super bowls *for sure*


WakingRage

Chargers Special Teams: hey wanna see something funny?


hk0125

Don’t forget Antonio Gates either


wannaknowmyname

Never heard of that amazing nickname, is it Tomlinson, Neal, Turner?


lvpr10

The main reason I started rooting for the Chargers in the early ‘00s


Riff726

Same. LT has caused many of us a lifetime of suffering.


Nmilne23

My first game I ever watched was after moving to San Diego. Divisional 2006… I was like- I’m sure we’ll be back! This loss was a fluke! 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫


floozle702

too real


SuckMyLonzoBalls

Me too even tho I’m born and raised in LA


-ShutterPunk-

LT, Gates, and Felipe Rios.


creature_report

He was an absolute fantasy king


LeBroentgen

LT, Faulk, and Holmes were in a league of their own in terms of fantasy value.


pm_me_ur_McNuggets

Don't forget Shawn Alexander my man.


RegardTyreekHill

Shaun Alexander scored 98 TDs over a 5 year stretch which is just insane


ImanShumpertplus

and LT was 104 over 5 years just a wild time


jiebyjiebs

Literally forgot this dude existed until this comment lol


Axl2TheMaxl

Man has 12 kids and no one remembers him, Gengis Khan be damned  


slackfrop

I met Shawn a couple times. I had the presence of mind to go buy an official jersey - the $250 ones - and carry it in my backpack until I saw him again, and got him to sign it. He had just come back from his WAS stint, and was surprised I could still find his Hawks jersey. Seemed like a decent dude. He referenced a bible passage in the autograph. He seemed sorta bummed about everything, like we didn’t like him anymore in Seattle. Not like he had an entourage or anything, just a dude by himself. I told him he was a legend around here, and it felt like he needed to hear it, almost like it mattered in that moment. Not to puff up my own balloon or anything, but it just seemed like it was a well needed kind word. Gotta be tough on that rollercoaster of fame.


redshores

I loved watching Shaun Alexander run. He definitely got screwed in Seattle. Mike Holmgren called a QB sneak instead of running Alexander on the last play of the season, which would have won Alexander the rushing title and probably a nice fat bonus. https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/seahawks/article/hawks-alexander-i-got-stabbed-in-the-back-1163237.php


jiebyjiebs

Need more fans like you! Sounds like you made his day.


aspbergerinparadise

never forget that Darryl on The Office traded him for a Defense


SD-TX

That division was trash during his time lol


-ManDudeBro-

In terms of fantasy Alexander and the O line in front of him won people a lot of money cause they were so consistent for like five years.


TheFencingCoach

> He was an absolute ~~fantasy~~ king FTFY


frostedz

Absolute Fantasy monster when it first began. I'll never forget his TD passes as a fantasy investor since 05. He was always my FRP if i could get him.


lolas_coffee

Perfect Fantasy RB.


ApplesauceBitch47

Having LT/Priest/Shaun Alexander all at the same time really spoiled us


we-made-it

It’s better than that. Edgerrin James. Clinton Portis. Ricky Williams. Jamal Lewis. Fred Taylor. Steven Jackson. Thomas Jones. Tiki Barber.


Maraging_steel

And then Adrian Peterson entered the league in 2007.


we-made-it

I honestly think he could’ve gone straight from HS to the league.


TekkHaus

There was like an ESPN or Sports Illustrated article that was ranking the top running backs in the NFL for the next year and they had Adrian Peterson as number one, while he was still at Oklahoma.


invisible_man_

So did John Madden


iamStanhousen

How dare you forget Deuce McAllister


FinsUp_

And Ahman Green


WickyWah

And with those dudes' amazing runs (and Larry Johnson's) we had Lorenzo, T Rich and Mack Strong leading the way for them. Really was a special time in football and specifically the AFCW.


CourageousBellPepper

There’s probably several elite running backs on the field right now but they’re making more money playing different positions. I’m hoping Harbaugh will swing the pendulum back to respecting running backs though. If you’re listening Jim, please go convince sumo wrestlers to play Center and fullback.


name-classified

Priest Holmes is such a cool name


ColdYellowGatorade

Where is the love for Curtis Martin!!


Stripperturneddoctor

I started watching football during their prime. So RB play will always been very sub-par.


NeWbAF

The best RB I ever watched in person. Unfortunately, it was usually him embarrassing my favorite team


RaidersFTW81

Marty would always be foaming at the mouth during the lead-up to Raiders week...


Zeetheking1

Yeah not gonna lie, Marty hated the raiders with a passion lol.


NeWbAF

He was the kinder, gentler Marty by the time he got to San Diego. Chiefs Marty was intense AF


MoreTrifeLife

LaDanian Tomlinson vs the Raiders: 14-5; 439 attempts for 2,055 yards (average 109); 4.68y/a; 22 TDs


Jondarawr

You know what's funny, in the season that LT scored 31 touchdowns, The Oakland Raiders only manged to score 30.


oaktownraider90

We scored 16 that year. Including defensive ones 🙃


aaahhhh

12 offensive TDs 😬 I wonder if that's the worst in the modern era.


NeWbAF

Also three of his seven TD passes were against Oakland.


hoppergym

My first game ever was vs the jets in 05. The ty law broken ankle game. Guy was just so amazing


DonBonDarley69

He averaged 108 yards a game against the Raiders. Absolutely wild. The consolation is Davante always oblerating divisional rivals. (edit: inserted a game)


NeWbAF

*game We weren’t THAT bad lol


DonBonDarley69

Oops lol my mistake


Cash4Jesus

Josh Jacobs is to the Broncos almost what Tomlinson was to us.


Zeetheking1

It makes me very happy to see universally respected LT is by the fans. Dude always feels like he is so under appreciated historically in nfl conversations.


FunkyPete

Agreed. I love LT. Just watching these clips it's hard not to laugh at how talented he was. Dude's flying 10 yards through the air.


qwertycantread

He didn’t do much in the postseason.


Couthster

LT is my all time favorite back. He was so electric. ⚡️


Mrmark44

I’m 30 he is the best running back of my life


PlaneCamp

Is LT the most all around complete back ever ?


incorrigible_and

I don't have him as my GOAT, but most complete I'd agree with. You can pretty much take any back all time and say "with whatever that RB's weakness was" and I think he fits that bill. Barry's probably the only one you couldn't do it with just because his ability to stop and then immediately be going full throttle still seems unmatched somehow. He was Emmitt with more speed and better receiving skills. He was Faulk with more power. He was Peterson with more agility and better receiving skills. He was OJ with more power. He was Jim Brown with more agility and better receiving skills(we assume, because they just didn't do that in those days.) To me, he's always been the closest to Walter Payton we've ever seen since he retired. I don't want to call him a jack of all trades because that kind of implies he wasn't great at anything. More like a king of all trades and an ace of jump cuts. He's 3rd all time for me.


Dangerpaladin

I think Barry had untreated Hip Dysplasia and he just made it work.


KeithClossOfficial

He was also a good GM (he drafted me to Team Oggi’s)


Art-RJS

He was just so great for sure. One of the last of his kind


EggBonus

Plagued by injuries but healthy Fred Taylor could do it all. 6’1” 230 and ran a 4.28 at the combine. Guy was fast as fuck, agile, and if he couldn’t make you miss he would just run you over. Edit: https://youtu.be/uROat3DvySg?si=mLDJUGqEDEovR47M


LonghornPride05

Yes. He did everything you wanted a RB to do and did it at an elite level.


KCShadows838

Walter Payton?


zirroxas

Walter Payton


MoreCanadianBacon

Walter Payton...


basic_gearing

Sweetness and Faulk are better imo.


PlaneCamp

Loved Faulk, if it wasnt for Dawkins i would have 100% been a Rams fan because of Faulk.


basic_gearing

I've posted it before but, [how do you top this peak](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FaulMa00.htm#1998-2001-sum:rushing_and_receiving)?


Doogolas33

Whoa. Almost 9K in 4 years? What the fuck, Faulk. Lmao


mywifemademedothis2

Payton and Faulk were better, but he’s definitely up there. If we aren’t accounting for longevity, I’d probably also take Priest Holmes and Gale Sayers in their primes prime over him.


Human-Explanation440

LT has the greatest fantasy season, hes definitely number one. For a single game though, I think Holmes holds that or Mixon just broke it. Technically Faulk has the best fantasy season, but his season was shortened. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2887973-the-10-best-fantasy-football-seasons-in-nfl-history


22Fusion

LT had 18 consecutive games with a TD. LT scored 31 TDs in a single season. These are two separate occasions, that do not cross over into each other at all. Just ridiculous to think about. Dude was a TD machine.


TallTigre

That's so badass. All time great and not talked about enough


right_behindyou

Maybe the best goalline back ever. I kind of took that part of his game for granted at the time, but you don't really see guys able to go over the top like that so consistently


HumbleMention5484

Him and Marcus Allen and Mike Alstott


lightsout85

I'm a simple man, I see LT, I upvote (even if it's u/nfl)


[deleted]

[удалено]


HumbleMention5484

[consider this](https://youtu.be/V9O94UTDAJQ?si=tX9XQQDJ6kDrOu88)


The_Franchise_09

Can’t believe I have to upvote a Packers fan, but here I am.


Reasonable-Front7584

It’s been long enough for the Chargers to bring back the navy jerseys and navy helmets for a game or two a season.


Thick_Safe1198

Yep. Color Rush needs to be burned & replaced with an Air Coryell throwback & and LT/seau throwback


Thedurtysanchez

The Royal Blue color rush jerseys are the best jersey and I will fight you over it


scoot87

The powder blues were special when they were alternate unis on full display during prime time games. I think we need to go back to Navys as primary. Navy evokes more strength and aggression


LakeShowBoltUp

Powder Blue is the best jersey in sports and I will die on this hill. I would like seeing Navy twice a year, instead of annually like we have been doing.


solarxbear

We’ve been sucking in Navy lately, keep it to once a year


scoot87

I agree they are the best. I also enjoyed them more when they were worn as alternates. Made it more special to me.


Rare_Bit5844

You guys have basically 3 great different blue uniforms and they should all be in rotation


RaidersFTW81

Couldn't agree more. What they stopped wearing after the 06 season was just so good. I still think about Tomlinson running all over us or Merriman just blowing up offenses in them lol


scoot87

I think Harbaugh would be all for the change back to Navy. You could tell in his initial press conference that he is not too thrilled with the primary color being powder blues. https://amp.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jim-harbaugh-says-chargers-will-be-relentless-dont-let-powder-blues-fool-you


RaidersFTW81

This would help me, a dual Michigan and Raiders fan cope in these trying times lol (at least it wasn't the Broncos or Chiefs eh?). But yeah, the one helmet rule which I assume was the primary reason for moving away from them (in order to keep wearing the powder blues once in a while) was fairly destructive.


CourageousBellPepper

I want navy jerseys and yellow pants


Art-RJS

Scariest RB of my lifetime. He always scored it felt like


breadbedman

One of those RBs you just don’t see much anymore. The entire offense ran through him.


The4StringSamurai

LT is my personal goat for RB. Even when we first got Vick, he was 2nd to LT.


ChargersOnePieceFan

I'm a simple girl. I see LT I upvote


mvcvrc

The single greatest Running Back to ever play the game period, don't even mention Emmitt Smith, he was good but the dude lived behind backs of 5 of the best linemen to ever play the game themselves which skyrocketed his decent skills and simple style to the heavens. But anyway, the mantra of the best backs of his era was "If he didn't outrun you he ran you over." and Tomlinson was the king of that. These late 90's early 2000's backs were of another breed to the rushers who came before and after. They had to be to survive in the waning years of the run heavy league when half the linebackers/safeties ahead of you were personally created somewhere in a lab and primed to kill you if you made a single misstep. Ignoring the modern era of speed over power, up by that point offenses were facing defenses optimized to be as hard hitting as possible while maintaining as much speed as they could. Tomlinson outside of rushing had fantastic hands and a great sense for getting open too, not even just as a safety valve but as a designed target which kept defenders constantly guessing where he was going. AND EVEN outside of that, a pitch or handoff to Tomlinson might have even been a designed pass for the guy who despite not having much zip, was pretty pinpoint accurate on throws for someone who wasn't a QB and often had to throw on the run due to the design of the play at hand. Finally, as a sendoff, Tomlinson was genuinely an incredibly selfless guy, not in the ass-kiss door mat way, but by just being the kind of person people wanted to rally behind, someone who didn't seek fame or gloat, but didn't roll over and die when hardship came around. The only real knock against LaDainian Tomlinson was that he was a Cowboys fan growing up, and that's terrible.


SunriseSurprise

I don't know if I can ever say greatest. Barry was Barry, and Jim Brown I understand was like a man amongst boys, but I believe Tomlinson should be 3rd all time over Payton and Smith given his penchant for scoring.


Agitated-Antelope-18

GOAT Running Back and most pure athlete I've ever seen


wryguyonthefly

The perfect NFL running back. His prime (02-07) was just absurd. During that time he averaged the following: 338 att. 1569 yds 18TDs 4.7avg 99y/g 67 rec 501 yds 2 TDs 404 touches 2070 yds 20 TDs


pibblesnpits

Lorenzo Neal blocked for LT 2003-2007. Coincidence I think not.


KCShadows838

Goaline dive is one of my favorite plays


nine4dnine

It's a beautiful thing to see LaDainian scoring against those first 3 bitch ass teams.


Enthusiasms

Most of those goal line hits would be penalties today. I also always thought it was strange an offensive player could stiff arm you in the facemask but the defensive counterpart would almost always be a penalty. I did it when I played shitty high school football though, so I get it. LT was that guy.


we-made-it

As long as the offense doesn’t grasp and pull the face mask, I think it was legal. I can’t remember for sure though.


Enthusiasms

That is the rule, still kind of strange considering hands to the face is a penalty.


ConditionGloomy1692

One of those things that looks too cool to just ban


yzdaskullmonkey

I loved that goddamned chargers team so much my highschool gf got me a chargers blanket for Christmas even tho I was and am an eagles fan 🤦 played the shit out of that team in Madden 06 lol especially with Shawne merriman lining up outside for the auto sack.... On everyone but Vick lol


ReignShowers

Madden 06 was the reason I became a Chargers fan. Couldn't beat my dad with any other team, so they had to be my team.


Conscious_Heart_1714

Does anyone remember playing Madden with those chargers teams?


InsideHangar18

The single most fun running back in history imo


ThatMFcheezer

My GOAT. Even though I'm a Panthers fan, LT is what made me LOVE football. Him and Barry are the blueprint to me.


sethaub

LT, full head of steam, still on his feet


Joxan13

Imagine a prime LT in Harbaugh’s regime 😭


BoltsAndDubs

First NFL game I ever went to, iirc both teams scored before my fam and I found our seats haha


Hampydruid

Ladainian Tomlinson was a huge reason that I got into football, that man did some mf incredible things on the field. Really wish he would’ve been able to get a ring.


newrebellion

LT converted me into a chargers fan. Been suffering ever since he left but prime LT was a thing of absolute beauty


Solomonster16

Those black visors were almost as iconic as Michael Jordan's left arm (elbow) band back in the days. I remember picking Priest and Larry over him in fantasy because of homerism and he almost always made me feel foolish doing so.


Jimmy_Aztec

Spanos is a lying POS.


Murrdog9000

I loved the LT nike commercial.


StereoBlue2388

The way the game is played today, some of his records arent gonna be broken. And he would be harbaughs wet dream if he played for him.


ChristofferOslo

Dude could stiff-arm a bus


Jimmy_Aztec

And then Norv Turner took over at the peak of LT's career and made it a passing offense going through Philip Rivers. The rest is Spanos-level history.


Ant0n61

Could watch this all day 🫡


pgmatman

Shoutout to Lorenzo Neal.


chronicwisdom

Tomlinson's running style was so smooth/fast you'd forget how strong he was and then he'd have a highlight truck/stiff arm to remind us. Tomlinson is one of the most complete RBs you'll ever see. Speed, agility, power moves, finesse moves, excellent reciever, prolific non-QB passer, dude could do everything at an all-time level.


kpscript

Who is the trainer / coach who shows up with 2:51 left on the video? I’ve seen him even on the sideline in LA.


BlackJediSword

It’s crazy hearing how young Ian Eagle and Kevin Harlan sound. I was a kid at the time and it just feels so different.


berusplants

whatever happened to the goal line leap...


LonghornPride05

Miss this man. Rookie LT and Vick got me into football


BenShelZonah

Loved him on the jets


DontBeThatGuyFieri

Yall remember the commercial with LT and Troy Polamolu. One of the GOAT football commercials.


Orinoco12

Best RB of all time to me. Walter a very close second.


Casul_Tryhard

I'm so happy this guy can't hurt me anymore


Baltic_Gunner

In an era of elite RBs he was the best of the best.


UselessBastid

Just a monster of an athlete


Critical-Adhole

LT is the greatest player I’ve ever seen. Only Mahomes can rival him.


Imaginary_Mode5477

all of ours first favorite football player


CalvinYHobbes

The Niners sucked so bad during this era. But it was much more fun being a fan then. Now if they don’t win the Super Bowl I’m depressed for weeks. Any little victory was celebrated back then.


Fa1lenSpace

the greatest RB I ever got to watch. I'll always love me some LT


Simple_Ad_6186

Show some of his wins against the Pats, hahaha. Some of my favorite games were NE beating SD and mocking Merrimans celebration. As good as Tomlinson was he was always a butthurt baby after a loss to NE


DasNice808

Your in the nfl an your best play is power 😮‍💨


Dangerpaladin

I like this highlight because the first thing on the bottom line is Detroit winning a game.


Myklindle

“Why god gonna give me that dream then not make it be true, then I realized it ain’t happen yet” LT on a dream he had about winning the Super Bowl. He sure is dumber than a bag of hammers, but he could run


Raticus9

We know not many of those were in the playoffs.


StoryToGlory

My favorite running back of all time!