LaDainian Tomlinson’s career with the Chargers is over. I’m sure he’ll get signed somewhere, but his time in San Diego has officially passed. The team released him on Monday, and it was indeed the end of an era. Words can’t really express how incredible he has been over his 9-year career, even if he’s not the same as he once was.

In 9 seasons, he rushed for 12,490 yards and 138 TD’s. That’s an average of 1,388 yards and 15 TD’s per season, for almost an entire decade. Let that sink in for a minute.

His 2006 season, in which he won the NFL MVP award, was one of the best we’ve ever seen from the running back position. 1,815 yards, 28 rushing TD’s, and he also had 3 receiving TD’s and 2 passing TD’s.

It’s actually pretty incredible to think that a few short years ago, we were wondering how long he could keep up his torrid pace, and whether or not he could challenge Emmitt Smith’s all-time rushing yardage record. He has just under 6,000 yards to go, and if he can land himself in the right system for the next 5 years or so, I still think there’s an outside chance that he could pull it off.

His QB, Philip Rivers, spoke extremely highly of LT in his departure:

“I’ve got a lot of great memories. That’s what I wanted to tell him today. I had the best view in the house — some of the awesomest runs he made. It was also the friendship and the practices and the bus rides that you really remember. What LT’s meant to this town and this team in nine years — the impact he’s had both on and off the field — you may never see again.”

We’ll keep an eye on him, and we’ll see how he fares in his next destination. But no matter what happens, he’s already the best that San Diego has ever seen, and maybe the best they’ll EVER see.