LaDainian Tomlinson Signs With Chargers, Announces Retirement

VIDEO: LaDainian Tomlinson's Legacy Beyond The Numbers

LaDainian Tomlinson Officially Retires As A Charger

San Diego Chargers president Dean Spanos recalled asking his personnel man whether or not a TCU running back named LaDainian Tomlinson was "any good." San Diego was considering Tomlinson with the fifth pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Spanos acknowledged on Monday that he now was somewhat embarrassed to admit asking that question, as he introduced Tomlinson who was there to announce his retirement after one of the most productive careers for a running back in NFL history.

Tomlinson announced last week that he would retire, confirming speculation from earlier in the spring. He was in San Diego to sign a ceremonial contract that would allow him to retire as a member of the Chargers, where he played for nine years.

Through his nine seasons in San Diego and two more with the New York Jets, LT rushed for 13,684 yards and 145 touchdowns. He also accumulated 4,772 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns through his 11-year career. In 2006, Tomlinson set the NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a single season with 28. He earned the league's MVP award that season.

In reflecting on his long career, Tomlinson thanked everyone from the owners and coaches to the offensive linemen and the equipment managers he worked with over the years. He revealed in his remarks that he contacted Spanos several weeks ago to discuss the possibility of signing and retiring as a Charger, telling the television cameras "he always felt in his heart" that he was a Charger.

Even among the notoriously fickle Hall of Fame voters, LT has a pretty solid case to make for inclusion, first ballot inclusion.

You can see the archived version of Tomlinson's Monday press conference on the Chargers' website.

For more on the Chargers, check out Bolts From the Blue.

Did LaDainian Tomlinson Have The Best Fantasy Football Season Ever?

Chargers Fans React To LaDainian Tomlinson Retirement

The San Diego Chargers announced Sunday that one of the greatest players in franchise history, LaDainian Tomlinson, would re-sign with them only to retire, which they'll announce in a press conference Monday. This news, as you can imagine, has rippled through the Chargers' fanbase, despite being announced before 9 a.m. on a Sunday, Father's Day, no less.

SB Nation's Chargers blog, Bolts From The Blue, had this to say about the not-so-abrupt news:

Say what you will about the whole "sign a one-day contract for the team then immediately retire" stunt that some players and teams pull, this will make a lot of people happy. Since being drafted in the first round of the 2001 Draft, Tomlinson played nine of the best seasons of any Chargers Running Back, breaking and setting numerous records along the way. After two wayward seasons spent in New York, it'll make many Chargers fans happy to see him rejoin the team and retire as a member of the San Diego Chargers.

For more on Tomlinson's retirement, head to Bolts From the Blue, SB Nation's Chargers blog.

Chargers Confirm LaDainian Tomlinson Retirement, Signing

With the cat out of the bag thanks to a report from the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego Chargers confirmed on Sunday that LaDainian Tomlinson would sign with the team and retire in a Monday ceremony.

Tomlinson will sign with the team and retire in a ceremony from Chargers Park. The ceremony will be streamed live on Chargers.com, San Diego's website, on Monday at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern.

Tomlinson ranks second on the all-time list in career rushing touchdowns with 145, and fifth in rushing yards with 13,684. He spent nine of his 11 NFL seasons with the Chargers, topping 1,100 yards rushing in all but one of those years and 1,450 yards in four of them and scoring an NFL record 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006.

He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets in 2010, but compiled just 1,194 rushing yards in two years in New York.

For more on Tomlinson's retirement, head to Bolts From the Blue, SB Nation's Chargers blog.

LaDainian Tomlinson Will Retire After Signing With Chargers, According To Report

LaDainian Tomlinson has reportedly resigned with the San Diego Chargers to retire with the team that drafted him, ending the career of one of history's greatest running backs.