It’s safe to say that this year’s L.T. doesn’t resemble the original L.T. But which Pro Football Hall of Famer reminds us of LaDainian Tomlinson?
Seven men will be officially enshrined in Canton, Ohio’s most famous building this weekend. The list of inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame will stand at 310. It feels like a modest number for a game that’s been around so long. The Class of 2017 includes three offensive stars, two defensive studs, one remarkable kicker and one maverick of an owner.
So how does one of the great running backs in the history of the game draw comparisons to when we are talking fellow Hall of Famers?
LaDainian Tomlinson/Thurman Thomas
Only fellow Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith (18,355), Walter Payton (16,726), Barry Sanders (15,269) and Curtis Martin (14,101) have run for more yards in NFL history than LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684). That’s a pretty impressive list. But it only gets better.
The fifth overall pick in the 2001 draft by the then-San Diego now-Los Angeles Chargers (who played his final 2 seasons with the New York Jets) also ranks fifth in league annals in total yards from scrimmage. He’s surpassed only by Jerry Rice, Smith, Payton and Marshall Faulk. And only Rice (208) and Smith (175) have scored more touchdowns (162) than the former TCU superstar.
So why choose the great Thurman Thomas as a comparison? Actually, Tomlinson was a combination of so many great running backs. The workhorse ability of Smith, the pass-catching prowess of Faulk. The relentless nature of Payton – who like the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro threw his share of touchdown passes.
Along with his rushing yards, Tomlinson totaled 624 receptions for 4,772 and 17 touchdowns. He totaled 100 catches in 2003, his third season in the league. Like Thomas, he made it look effortless at time, almost gliding rather than running. But make no mistake. He could run over, around and through you in the blink of an eye. In each of his first eight NFL seasons, he totaled at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage and reached the 2,000 mark three times.
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Of course, LaDainian Tomlinson had a season for the ages in 2006. He scored an NFL-record 31 touchdowns, totaled 2,323 yards from scrimmage and was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player. Early in his career, you could see the makings of a Hall of Famer. And now that’s official.