LaDainian Tomlinson: Chargers GOAT and King of Records

Continuing with our theme of “records” this week, we can’t go without talking about LaDainian Tomlinson.

LT is one of the best, if not THE best Charger ever. And his stats back that up completely.

Tomlinson retired after the 2011 season and he still owns 58 NFL records (18 of which he is tied with at least 1 other player for 1st). There are probably more for things that aren’t officially tracked feats (like the fact that he is still the only player in NFL history to have 100 receptions and 1000+ rushing yards in the same season), but to still own 58 League records 7 years after your retirement is amazing.

So what are these records? Here’s the whole list:

1. Most single season touchdowns (31 in 2006; previously 28 in 2005 by Shaun Alexander)
2. Most single season rushing touchdowns (28 in 2006; previously 27 in 2003 by Priest Holmes, 2005 by Shaun Alexander.)
3. Most points scored in a single season (186 in 2006, previously 176 in 1960 by Paul Hornung.)
4. Most points scored in a single calendar month (78 in Nov 2006, previously 77 in Oct 1961 by Paul Hornung.)
5. Most touchdowns scored in a five-game stretch (15 in 2006)
6. Most touchdowns scored in a six-game stretch (19 in 2006)
7. Most touchdowns scored in first 10 games of season (22 in 2006)
8. Most touchdowns scored in first 12 games of season (26 in 2006)
9. Most touchdowns scored in a single calendar month (13 in Nov 2006, previously 12 in Oct 1958 by Jim Brown.)
10. Most games with 2+ rushing touchdowns (38).
11. Most games with 3+ rushing touchdowns (12; prev. 10 by Jim Brown)
12. Most games with 200+ yards from scrimmage in a season (5 in 2003)
13. Most games with 18 or more points in a season (6 in 2006)
14. Most games with 16 or more points in a season (6 in 2006; with Paul Hornung in 1960)
15. Most games with 14 or more points in a season (6 in 2006; with Don Hutson in 1942 and Paul Hornung in 1960)
16. Most games with 12 or more points in a season (10 in 2006; with Priest Holmes in 2003)
17. Most games with 10 or more points in a season (10 in 2006; tied with several players)
18. Most games with 2 or more touchdowns in season (10) in 2006 – tied with Priest Holmes, 2003
19. Most games with 3 or more touchdowns in season (6) in 2006
20. Most games with 3 or more rushing touchdowns in a season (5 in 2006)
21. Most games with 4 touchdowns in a season (3) in 2006
22. Most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (14)
23. Most consecutive games with 2+ rushing touchdowns (8) in 2006
24. Most consecutive games with 3+ rushing touchdowns (3) in 2006
25. Most consecutive games with a touchdown (18) 2004–2005 – tied with Lenny Moore, 1963–1965
26. Most consecutive games with multiple touchdowns (8) in 2006
27. Most consecutive games with 3+ touchdowns (4) in 2006
28. Most consecutive games with 4+ touchdowns: (2) in 2006 – tied with Marshall Faulk in 2000 and Jim Taylor in 1962
29. Most consecutive seasons with 1,200+ or more yards rushing (7 from 2001–2007 with Eric Dickerson)
30. Most consecutive seasons with 1,300+ or more yards rushing (6 from 2002–2007)
31. Most consecutive seasons with 1,500+ yards from scrimmage (8 from 2001–2008)
32. Most consecutive seasons with 5+ rushing touchdowns (10 from 2001–2010, with Marshall Faulk)
33. Most consecutive seasons with 6+ rushing touchdowns (10 from 2001–2010, with Marshall Faulk)
34. Most consecutive seasons with 7+ rushing touchdowns (9 from 2001–2009; with Jim Brown)
35. Most consecutive seasons with 8+ rushing touchdowns (9 from 2001–2009)
36. Most consecutive seasons with 9+ rushing touchdowns (9 from 2001–2009)
37. Most consecutive seasons with 10+ rushing touchdowns (9 from 2001–2009)
38. Most consecutive seasons with 11+ rushing touchdowns (8 from 2002–2009)
39. Most consecutive seasons with 12+ rushing touchdowns (6 from 2002–2007)
40. Most consecutive seasons with 13+ rushing touchdowns (6 from 2002–2007)
41. Most consecutive seasons with 14+ touchdowns (6) 2002–2007
42. Most consecutive seasons with 15+ touchdowns (6) 2002–2007
43. Most consecutive seasons with 16+ touchdowns (5) 2003–2007 – tied with Shaun Alexander 2001–2005
44. Most seasons with 10+ rushing touchdowns (9) 2001–2009
45. Most seasons with 11+ rushing touchdowns (8) 2002–2009 – tied with Emmitt Smith 1990–1996, 1998–1999.
46. Most seasons with 12+ rushing touchdowns (7) 2002–2007, 2009
47. Most seasons with 13+ rushing touchdowns (6) 2002–2007
48. Most seasons with 14+ rushing touchdowns (5) 2002, 2004–2007 – tied with Shaun Alexander, 2001–2005
49. Most seasons with 15+ rushing touchdowns (4) 2004–2007
50. Most seasons with 17+ rushing touchdowns (3) 2004–2006 – tied with Emmitt Smith 1992, 1994–1995
51. Most seasons with 17+ touchdowns (5) 2003–2007
52. Most seasons with 18+ touchdowns (4) 2004–2007
53. Most seasons with 20+ touchdowns (2) 2005–2006 – tied with 4 other players
54. Fastest player to gain 9,000 yards from scrimmage (72 GP) – tied with Edgerrin James
55. Fastest player to gain 12,000 yards from scrimmage (95 GP) – tied with Edgerrin James
56. Fastest player to gain 13,000 yards from scrimmage (104 GP)
57. Fastest player to gain 14,000 yards from scrimmage (111 GP)
58. Fastest player to gain 15,000 yards from scrimmage (121 GP)

Not surprisingly, LT has a TON of records around touchdowns and scoring. Those of us around for LT’s reign may not have realized at the time just how lucky we were to have him playing for our favorite team. Opposing teams literally couldn’t keep him out of the endzone, and not just during his record breaking MVP season. He had 6 straight seasons of 15+ rushing TDs. To put that in perspective, since he has retired (2012 season until now), only 4 RBs have even scored 15 rushing TDs in a season, and none of them have done it more than once, let alone consecutively.

His pace gaining yards from scrimmage is also mind blowing. Just look at those last few lines. It only took him 23 games to gain the 3000 yards from 9k to 12k career yards. Then only 9 more games for the next thousand, then only 7 more games for the next thousand. Just a crazy, crazy pace.

With the current state of the NFL, specifically NFL offenses, I think most of these records will stand the test of time.

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With so many to choose from, what is your favorite LT record?