NFL
OTD 2006: LaDainian Tomlinson Broke NFL RUSH TD Record
December 17, 2006: LaDainian Tomlinson broke the NFL single-season rushing TD record, cementing his legacy as an all-time great Running Back
Chargers.com
By December 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson was a force unlike anything the NFL had seen. Week after week, the San Diego Chargers’ star running back tore through defenses, leaving little doubt that something historic was brewing. On December 17th, in a matchup against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, LT delivered the exclamation point to his incredible season.
With a touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter, Tomlinson scored his 28th rushing touchdown, breaking Shaun Alexander’s single-season record set just one year earlier. The moment wasn’t just another milestone—it was a crowning achievement for a player who had dominated from start to finish. Tomlinson’s record-breaking run was the culmination of a campaign defined by consistency, brilliance, and an unrelenting ability to score when it mattered most.
December 17, 2006: San Diego #Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson broke the record for RUSH TD (28) during 1 season in NFL history, surpassing Shaun Alexander’s record (27) set the previous season. LT's 28 RUSH TD remains the NFL season record
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 18, 2021
pic.twitter.com/wbYEz52DxH
Most RUSH TD during 1 season in NFL history:
1. 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson (28)
T2. 2005 Shaun Alexander & 2003 Priest Holmes (27)
4. 1995 Emmitt Smith (25)
5. 1983 John Riggins (24)
LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2006 season wasn’t just great—it was groundbreaking. Scoring 28 rushing touchdowns, LT broke the single-season record, edging past Shaun Alexander’s mark of 27 set just a year prior. But this wasn’t stat-padding; Tomlinson delivered when it mattered most. He scored twice or more in 10 separate games, including a 3-TD performance against Denver that helped them seal the No.1 seed that season. His dominance wasn’t empty yards—it was points on the board, pressure on defenses, and wins in the standings.
To put it in perspective, only four entire teams had more rushing touchdowns than LT that year. He averaged a TD every 11 carries, a level of efficiency that’s borderline absurd. With 31 total touchdowns and over 1,800 rushing yards, Tomlinson’s 2006 campaign was the perfect mix of production, consistency, and clutch performances. It wasn’t just the best RB scoring season ever—it was the gold standard for running back greatness.
December 17, 2006: San Diego #Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson broke the record for RUSH TD (28) during 1 season in NFL history, surpassing Shaun Alexander’s record (27) set the previous season. LT's 28 RUSH TD remains the NFL season record
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 18, 2021
pic.twitter.com/wbYEz52DxH
LaDainian Tomlinson's NFL records:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) September 15, 2022
- Season RUSH TD (28) & TOT TD (31)
- 1,600+ RUSH & 700+ REC YDS in 1 season
- GP of 2+ (38) & 3+ (12) RUSH TD
- Consecutive seasons (9) of 8+ RUSH TD or GP (18) of 1+ RUSH TD
- YScm (9,753) or TD (80) in 1st 5 seasonspic.twitter.com/uZhtX0fhwV
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