View source for LaDainian Tomlinson | American Football Database

===New York Jets===
For the first time in his career, Tomlinson entered the free-agent market, with many teams expressing interest. Despite the fact that Tomlinson still believed that he was a number one caliber running back, he would be forced to split time with another running back and after various contract negotiations, Tomlinson signed a two-year, $5.2 million contract with the [[New York Jets]] on March 14, 2010.<ref>{{Citation |title=Tomlinson signs with Jets |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4994748&source=ESPNHeadlines |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |author= |date=March 15, 2010 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5td0FFMOi |archivedate=October 20, 2010 |accessdate=October 20, 2010}}</ref> Tomlinson chose to sign with New York because he felt more comfortable with the team's philosophy, personnel and he felt the team offered him the best chance to win a championship.<ref>{{Citation |title=LT's signing with Jets came down to staff, scheme, personnel likes |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jim_trotter/03/14/LT.insider/index.html |work=SI.com |publisher=Sports Illustrated |author=Trotter, Jim |date=March 14, 2010 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5thlpQyuq |archivedate=October 23, 2010 |accessdate=October 23, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Reflection on '09, Future w/NY">{{Citation |title=LaDainian Tomlinson says last year's performance was not his fault |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/jets/2010-04-01-ladainian-tomlinson-says-last-years-performance-was-not-his-fault_N.htm |work=USAToday.com |publisher=USA Today |author=AP |date=April 1, 2010 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5thm7eM8z |archivedate=October 23, 2010 |accessdate=October 23, 2010 |authorlink=Associated Press}}</ref>

Tomlinson recorded his first 100-yard rushing game in nearly two years on October 3, 2010 against the [[Buffalo Bills]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Recap: LT's 2 scores lead Jets in 38-14 rout of Bills |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2010/10/03/3982_recap.html |work=SI.com |publisher=Sports Illustrated |author= |date= |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5tczfgNku |archivedate=October 20, 2010 |accessdate=October 20, 2010}}</ref> In the game Tomlinson also passed [[Tony Dorsett]] for 7th on the all time rushing list.

On October 31, 2010, Tomlinson reached another career milestone joining [[Walter Payton]] as the only players in NFL history to
gain 13,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards receiving.<ref>{{Citation |title=Jets' Tomlinson reaches milestone |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/jets_tomlinson_reaches_milestone_toXueKfmSoc14G0eTAHklL?CMP |work=NYPost.com |publisher=New York Post |author=[[Associated Press]] |date=October 31, 2010 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5ttylpj7B |archivedate=October 31, 2010 |accessdate=October 31, 2010}}</ref>

On December 6, 2010 against the [[New England Patriots]] on Monday Night Football, LaDainian Tomlinson passed [[Eric Dickerson]] for 6th on the all time rushing list.

On December 19, 2010 LaDainian Tomlinson reached another milestone by passing [[Marcus Allen]] for 6th on the all time yards from scrimmage list.

He finished the season leading the Jets in rushing with 914 yards, though it was widely thought he would be a complement to [[Shonn Greene]], whom he outrushed by 148 yards.<ref>{{cite news
 | last=Caldwell
 | first=Dave
 | title=Rested Against Bills, Tomlinson Is Set for Colts
 | newspaper= [[The New York Times]]
 | date=January 6, 2011
 | page=B16
 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/sports/football/06tomlinson.html?scp=1&sq=tomlinson&st=cse
 | accessdate=January 27, 2011
 | quote=After last season, in which he rushed for a career-low 730 yards for San Diego, Tomlinson signed a two-year contract with the Jets, but it was widely thought he would be a complement to Shonn Greene. Tomlinson outrushed Greene by 148 yards.}}</ref> It was also Tomlinson's first year in his entire career that he did not record double-digit TDs, as he recorded a career low of 6.

He rushed for 82 yards on 16 attempts and ran for both Jets touchdowns in a 17–16 victory over the Colts in the [[2010–11_NFL_playoffs#AFC:_New_York_Jets_17.2C_Indianapolis_Colts_16|AFC wild card playoffs]].<ref>{{cite news
 | last=Bishop
 | first=Greg
 | title=Slowly and Steadily, the Jets Move Straight Ahead
 | newspaper= [[The New York Times]]
 | date=January 10, 2011
 | page=D4
 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/sports/football/10jets.html?scp=3&sq=tomlinson&st=cse
 | accessdate=January 27, 2011
 | quote=Both drives ended the same way, with Tomlinson bounding into the end zone from a yard out.}}</ref> Against the Patriots in the [[2010–11_NFL_playoffs#AFC:_New_York_Jets_28.2C_New_England_Patriots_21|AFC Divisional playoffs]], the Jets won 28–21 as Tomlinson rushed for 49 yards on 10 attempts and caught a touchdown. It was his 7th career postseason touchdown.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Mark Sanchez tosses 3 TDs as Jets soar into AFC title game
 | agency=Associated Press
 | work=ESPN.com
 | date=January 16, 2011
 | url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=310116017
 | accessdate=January 27, 2011
 | quote=LaDainian Tomlinson: 7th career postseason TD, most among all active running backs.}}</ref> In the  [[2010–11_NFL_playoffs#AFC_Championship_Game:_Pittsburgh_Steelers_24.2C_New_York_Jets_19|AFC Championship Game]] against the Steelers, the Jets were down 24–10 in the fourth quarter when Tomlinson was unable to score a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. The Jets went on to lose 24–19.<ref>{{cite news
 | last=Bishop
 | first=Greg
 | title=Out and Onward: Moments That Made the Game
 | newspaper= [[The New York Times]]
 | date=January 25, 2011
 | page=B13
 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/sports/football/25moments.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=tomlinson&st=cse
 | accessdate=January 27, 2011
 | quote=But instead of Greene, they sent running back LaDainian Tomlinson into a wall of black and gold. When Tomlinson tried to extend the ball over a crush of Steelers, he could not lift it.}}</ref> Tomlinson had nine carries for 16 yards.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - Box Score - January 23, 2011 - ESPN
 | work=ESPN.com
 | date=January 23, 2011
 | url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=310123023
 | accessdate=January 27, 2011
}}</ref>

Jets general manager [[Mike Tannenbaum]] said after the season that he expected Tomlinson back for 2011 but "things could change."<ref>{{cite news |last=Cimini |first=Rich |title=Sources: LaDainian Tomlinson to return |date=March 1, 2011 |work=ESPNNewYork.com |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6170368 |accessdate=March 1, 2011 |quote=General manager Mike Tannenbaum said after the season that he expects Tomlinson back but left some wiggle room by saying "things could change." Tomlinson's late-season fade, coupled with McKnight's strong showing in the Jets' regular-season finale, prompted some to speculate that the team was mulling a change.}}</ref> With Greene designated as the starting running back for 2011, Tomlinson began the season as a third-down back and caught six passes for 73&nbsp;yards in the season opener.<ref>{{cite news |last=Waszak Jr. |first=Dennis |title=Jets’ Tomlinson remakes himself as 3rd-down threat |date=September 15, 2011 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=capress-fbn_jets_lts_new_role-8508303 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/61jYUjIDY |archivedate=September 16, 2011}}</ref>

On September 25, 2011 against the [[Oakland Raiders]] Tomlinson caught an 18-yard touchdown pass for his 160th career touchdown, joining [[Emmitt Smith]] and [[Jerry Rice]] as the only players to score 160 career touchdowns.<ref>{{cite news|title=LaDainian Tomlinson joins Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice as only NFL players with 160 career touchdowns|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2011/09/26/2011-09-26_ladainians_day_wasted.html|work=New York Daily News|author=Armstrong, Kevin|date=September 26, 2011|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/61zwOqcv5|archivedate=September 26, 2011|accessdate=September 26, 2011}}</ref>

On October 9, 2011 against the [[New England Patriots]] Tomlinson became the 6th player in NFL history to reach 18,000 yards from scrimmage. On October 23, 2011 against the [[San Diego Chargers]] Tomlinson became the 4th running back in NFL history to have 600 career receptions, joining [[Larry Centers]], [[Marshall Faulk]], and [[Keith Byars]]. On November 13, 2011 against the [[New England Patriots]] Tomlinson passed [[Barry Sanders]] for 5th on the all time yards from scrimmage list. On December 18, 2011 against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] Tomlinson passed [[Keith Byars]] for 3rd on the all time career receptions list for running backs. On January 1, 2012 against the [[Miami Dolphins]] Tomlinson passed [[Jerome Bettis]] for 5th on the all time rushing yards list.