The 52: L.T. sets NFL touchdown record
This is No. 18 in our yearlong countdown of the most memorable moments in San Diego sports history. Read more about “The 52” here.
LaDainian Tomlinson learned what most San Diego sports fans have come to know.
It’s a reality we accept in the quest to enjoy our professional teams, as the years pass without a trophy.
Take the thrills where you can get them. Appreciate singular achievement.
And so it is with affection for the man and the moment that we recall one of the great sports accomplishments our town has witnessed – L.T. crossing into the west end zone at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 10, 2006, to set the NFL record for touchdowns in a season.
“That was a championship moment,” Tomlinson said recently. “Of course, we didn’t win an ultimate championship in San Diego, but that was one of those championship moments.”
He gave us so many in his nine seasons here, a span in which he led the NFL in rushing yards (12,490) and touchdowns (138), building most of a resume that will certainly see him inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame next August.
And it was the final scoring play in a 48-20 victory over the Denver Broncos toward the end of his MVP season that is held as the pinnacle of L.T.’s career, raised high like he was by his linemen after the remarkable run for his 29th touchdown of the season.
In a game that would clinch the AFC West title for the Chargers and that had been in hand for almost the entire fourth quarter, the drama of L.T.’s feat was enhanced by how the opportunity came about.
Two plays after Tomlinson scored his second touchdown of the game, with 3:57 remaining, Shawne Merriman forced and recovered a fumble at the Broncos’ 7-yard line.
Fans who were walking up the aisles turned back for their seats. The offense rushed on the field. Everyone knew. What had seemed as if it would have to wait a week was about to go down.
Fullback Lorenzo Neal stood outside the offensive huddle and raised and lowered his arms, conducting the crowd.
Tomlinson (among others) pretty much knew what was coming.
50 Power. The main ingredient in the Chargers potent offenses during the Marty Schottenheimer years.
“That’s Marty’s favorite play,” Tomlinson said later that day. “... I love the play because it’s obviously been good to me over the years. I’ve gained a lot of yards on that play.”
It was fate.
Quarterback Philip Rivers told the huddled Chargers they needed to get L.T. the record right there.
Before the huddle broke, L.T. told his teammates to meet him in the end zone so they could celebrate together.
Center Nick Hardwick recalled tears running down his cheek as he walked to the line just hoping not to botch the snap.
The play, 50 Power, is designed to be run inside, between the center and left guard. The running back Schottenheimer repeatedly proclaimed to be the best ever was afforded the option of ad-libbbing.
It was savvy and instinct that joined with speed and elusiveness to propel Tomlinson to 13,684 yards and 145 rushing touchdowns in his career, respectively fifth- and second-most in NFL history.
Fittingly, all were displayed on the record-breaking play.
Tomlinson knew it would be Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams wide on the left side and that Williams was not the best tackler.
Tomlinson took the ball and then took a wider route than normal around the left end. Williams tried to tackle him low. Tomlinson ran over him at the 5.
He maintained a diagonal, ran just beyond the fingertips of Dominique Foxworth at the goal line and just inside the southern pylon of that western end zone.
Qualcomm Stadium shook. Teammates ran to the far corner of the end zone, where they lifted L.T. It has become one of the most iconic photos every shot on one of our fields.
NEAL. GATES. McNEILL. DIELMAN. 21 perched on their shoulders, football in hand, held out in front of him as if he was sharing it with everyone.
“All anyone wanted to do was be a part of and touch greatness,” Hardwick recalled this week.
That’s what it was. Greatness.
“It was special to get to be a part of that moment,” Rivers said this week. “I can remember the faces in the huddle, so much excitement and anticipation – like, ‘Is this about to happen right now?’ And then he scored and all the guys in the end zone. It was awesome.”
