SAN DIEGO — LaDainian Tomlinson was released Monday by the San Diego Chargers, ending a brilliant nine-year run in which he became one of the NFL’s greatest running backs.
The move had been expected for some time. Tomlinson, who turned 30 last summer, was injured early in the 2009 season and finished with 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per carry, all career lows.
Tomlinson was due a $2 million bonus in March, which all but guaranteed he would be cut loose as his role diminished on a team that thrived with a pass-happy offense.
Tomlinson, one of the most beloved athletes in San Diego sports history, got the word in a meeting with team president Dean Spanos.
“I told him that in the 26 years that I’ve been in this business, it was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do,” Spanos said. “I’m not close to a lot of the players, but there’s a handful that I’ve been close with, and he’s probably the closest. It was really difficult to tell him. But out of respect, I wanted to tell him earlier rather than later.”
Tomlinson had two years left on his contract, which was reworked during a somewhat tumultuous period last offseason. Tomlinson wasn’t immediately available for comment.
He said after the Chargers’ playoff loss to the New York Jets that he felt he could still play for a few more seasons.
His agent, Tom Condon, said he will spend time at the forthcoming NFL combine in Indianapolis determining interest from other teams.
“I think they did us a favor in terms of releasing him before we go to the combine. That part of it was positive,” Condon said. “L.T. during Super Bowl week had indicated it was time to move on, and they accommodated him.”
Tomlinson ranks eighth on the all-time rushing list with 12,490 yards. His 138 career rushing touchdowns rank second and his 153 total touchdowns rank third.
