Gold Jacket Spotlight: LaDainian Tomlinson runs idol’s handoff into NFL stardom
Gold Jacket Spotlight
Published on : 3/17/2025
Neither EMMITT SMITH nor LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON realized the foreshadowing a handoff provided during a football camp LaDainian attended as a youngster.
The young man who received the ball in the exchange steps into the Gold Jacket Spotlight this week.
LaDainian recalled the camp experience for the NFL Network in which Smith made a surprise appearance, saying: “Emmitt Smith just jumps in the line and happens to be handing the ball off to me. Of all the kids that are in the line, he happened to hand the ball off to me.”
Later that same day, LaDainian continued, “I’m leaving my dorm room to go upstairs. Emmitt Smith is coming down the stairs, and he almost runs me over. Holds me up, keeps me from falling.”
LaDainian then repeated words he heard from his idol that would be life-changing: “ ‘You’ve got some talent; you’ve got some speed. Keep working hard.’
“That experience changed my life because it gave me confidence in myself. It gave me belief,” LaDainian said.
That confidence and belief led LaDainian to experience what his future NFL coach and father-like figure, Marty Schottenheimer, would call “championship days.”
On the football field, those championship days began for LaDainian the first time he started as a running back his senior year at University High School in Waco, Texas. After accepting his role as a fullback and linebacker through his junior season because his high school coach, LeRoy Coleman, had told him, according to LaDainian, “You needed to earn the right to carry the football,” LaDainian’s opening effort at running back resulted in six touchdowns.
Electing to remain in Texas for college, LaDanian enrolled at Texas Christian University and, again, was asked to accept the role of fullback. When TCU head coach Dennis Franchione moved LaDainian into the running back position, he caught the attention of college football enthusiasts after leading the nation in rushing his junior (1,850 yards) and senior (2,158 yards) seasons.
On Nov. 20, 1999, LaDainian became the first FBS collegiate player to reach 400 rushing yards in a game when he amassed 406 yards against the University of Texas-El Paso. That mark would stand unit 2014.
During the 2001 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers utilized the fifth overall pick to select LaDainian, whom John Butler, then Chargers general manager, described to owner Dean Spanos as “special” and “…going to make a difference to our team.”
In yet another foretelling experience, Chargers quarterback Doug Flutie told NFL Network, “He really reminded me, Day 1, of Walter Payton. He had the ability to throw the ball, which Walter could do. He had the ability to run routes and catch the ball, third-down pass protections he knew what was going on, his work ethic.”
LaDanian’s contributions made a difference as he rushed in excess of 1,000 yards in each of his first eight seasons in the league, leading the NFL in that category in 2006 (1,815) and 2007 (1,474).
In the 2006 season, LaDainian eclipsed a mark once held by the hero who offered that football camp handoff by scoring 28 rushing touchdowns. He also scored three times on receptions for a season total of 31 trips to the end zone.
Flutie’s observation would bear witness on and off the field. In 2006, LaDainian joined Payton as the only players to win the NFL Most Valuable Player and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year awards in the same season.
“Off the field, he was equal — equal to what he did on the field,” Spanos told “Access Chargers.” “His community involvement, how he cares about people in general and what he wants to do about it. This is a man that got engaged in the community.”
As Schottenheimer professed, LaDainian experienced — and continues to experience — many championship days in his life.
The young man who received the ball in the exchange steps into the Gold Jacket Spotlight this week.
LaDainian recalled the camp experience for the NFL Network in which Smith made a surprise appearance, saying: “Emmitt Smith just jumps in the line and happens to be handing the ball off to me. Of all the kids that are in the line, he happened to hand the ball off to me.”
Later that same day, LaDainian continued, “I’m leaving my dorm room to go upstairs. Emmitt Smith is coming down the stairs, and he almost runs me over. Holds me up, keeps me from falling.”
LaDainian then repeated words he heard from his idol that would be life-changing: “ ‘You’ve got some talent; you’ve got some speed. Keep working hard.’
“That experience changed my life because it gave me confidence in myself. It gave me belief,” LaDainian said.
That confidence and belief led LaDainian to experience what his future NFL coach and father-like figure, Marty Schottenheimer, would call “championship days.”
On the football field, those championship days began for LaDainian the first time he started as a running back his senior year at University High School in Waco, Texas. After accepting his role as a fullback and linebacker through his junior season because his high school coach, LeRoy Coleman, had told him, according to LaDainian, “You needed to earn the right to carry the football,” LaDainian’s opening effort at running back resulted in six touchdowns.
Electing to remain in Texas for college, LaDanian enrolled at Texas Christian University and, again, was asked to accept the role of fullback. When TCU head coach Dennis Franchione moved LaDainian into the running back position, he caught the attention of college football enthusiasts after leading the nation in rushing his junior (1,850 yards) and senior (2,158 yards) seasons.
On Nov. 20, 1999, LaDainian became the first FBS collegiate player to reach 400 rushing yards in a game when he amassed 406 yards against the University of Texas-El Paso. That mark would stand unit 2014.
During the 2001 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers utilized the fifth overall pick to select LaDainian, whom John Butler, then Chargers general manager, described to owner Dean Spanos as “special” and “…going to make a difference to our team.”
In yet another foretelling experience, Chargers quarterback Doug Flutie told NFL Network, “He really reminded me, Day 1, of Walter Payton. He had the ability to throw the ball, which Walter could do. He had the ability to run routes and catch the ball, third-down pass protections he knew what was going on, his work ethic.”
LaDanian’s contributions made a difference as he rushed in excess of 1,000 yards in each of his first eight seasons in the league, leading the NFL in that category in 2006 (1,815) and 2007 (1,474).
In the 2006 season, LaDainian eclipsed a mark once held by the hero who offered that football camp handoff by scoring 28 rushing touchdowns. He also scored three times on receptions for a season total of 31 trips to the end zone.
Flutie’s observation would bear witness on and off the field. In 2006, LaDainian joined Payton as the only players to win the NFL Most Valuable Player and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year awards in the same season.
“Off the field, he was equal — equal to what he did on the field,” Spanos told “Access Chargers.” “His community involvement, how he cares about people in general and what he wants to do about it. This is a man that got engaged in the community.”
As Schottenheimer professed, LaDainian experienced — and continues to experience — many championship days in his life.
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