Los Angeles Chargers
Greatest Player: LaDainian Tomlinson
In his final two collegiate seasons at TCU, LaDainian Tomlinson posted videogame statistics — rushing for over 4,200 yards and scoring 42 touchdowns. Critics suggested his success was a product of TCU’s option system, and claimed he wouldn’t transition well to the pro game. Boy, were they wrong!
In his first 8 NFL seasons, Tomlinson posted over 1,500 yards of total offense. Tomlinson’s excellent receiving skills also made him a dual threat, which placed a heavy burden on defensive players and coordinators. As if that wasn’t enough, Tomlinson was also a threat to pass on occasion, throwing 7 touchdowns during his years with the Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers
Runner-Up: Junior Seau
The epitome of a “football player” through and through, Tiaina Baul “Junior” Seau Jr. was one of the best defensive players of the 1990’s at any position, being named to the All-Pro team a whopping 10 times (eight times as an All-Pro).
Over the course of his career, he accumulated 1,846 total tackles, 56.5 sacks, and 18 interceptions. He was elected posthumously to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Los Angeles Chargers
Challenger: Philip Rivers
It will be interesting to see how voters will look back on the career of Philip Rivers. His supporters will point to the fact that he’ll retire as the Chargers franchise record-holder in virtually every conceivable passing statistic, as well as overall wins by a quarterback. He also holds the longest streak in the NFL for most consecutive starts by a quarterback, dating back to 2006 (192 starts).
But critics will point to the fact that he didn’t stack up to many of his colleagues in the present pass-happy era of the NFL, and has a career 5-4 record in the postseason.