Exactly a decade ago, the legendary running back LaDainian Tomlinson played his last game in a Chargers uniform.
The Chargers played the Jets in the AFC Divisional Round on Jan. 17, 2010. In the close, yet low scoring affair, the Bolts were unable to prevail, dropping to New York, 17-14.
Tomlinson didn’t leave his final mark the way that he was anticipating, only rushing for 24 yards on 12 carries.
Had kicker Nate Kaeding not missed three field goals, two of which should have been chip shots from 37 and 40 yards, the Chargers would have likely beaten the Jets to advance to the Conference Championship to face the Patriots.
Tomlinson’s final season with the Chargers was his least productive as he was hampered by an injury – running for 730 yards, his first season under 1,000 yards, on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per carry, all career lows.
Months after the loss in the playoffs, Tomlinson, 30 at the time, was released by the franchise after a phenomenal nine-year stint that saw him amass monstrous numbers and acquire a slew of accolades.
To this day, Tomlinson holds multiple franchise career records, including rushing yards (12,490), rushing touchdowns (138), total touchdowns (153) and yards from scrimmage (16,445).
Tomlinson’s number (21) was retired by the team in 2015. Two years later, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 on the first ballot.
