The Best Los Angeles Defensive Players of All Times
Over the years, different crops of players played for the Chargers leading to wins in the seasons. Undeniably, most of them worked their talents for their career success and projection of the team too.
Who Are The 3 Best Defensive Players?
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Junior Seau
The Chargers’ defense is synonymous with Junior Seau. Seau grew up in Oceanside California and played his college ball at USC before being selected fifth-overall by San Diego in the 1990 NFL Draft. Seau played with the Chargers from 1990 until 2003 and anchored the defense.
During his time with the team, Seau missed just eight games. He had 1,478 tackles, 47 sacks, and 15 interceptions in the course of his Chargers career. Off the field, he was also a superstar, involving himself in charity work in the San Diego area. For his charitable efforts, he was NFL Man of the Year in 2004.
Tragically, Seau took his own life in 2012. In 2015 he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a bittersweet honor for the Chargers’ greatest player of all time.
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LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson was selected with the fifth-overall pick in the 2001 draft and the selection paid major dividends for the Chargers. As a rookie, Tomlinson stormed into the league, rushing for 1,236 yards and 10 touchdowns. That season was impressive, but everyone remembers Tomlinson for what he did in 2006.
In that season, he rushed 348 times for 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also caught 56 passes for 508 yards and three additional scores. Tomlinson holds the Chargers record for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and yards from scrimmage and ranks in the top 10 of all-time in the league in many of these categories as well.
After leaving the Chargers, Tomlinson played for the New York Jets for two seasons and then retired. Tomlinson was elected to both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame
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Philip Rivers
If Philip Rivers would have led the Chargers to a Super Bowl victory, he would easily be No. 1 on this list. Rivers came to the Chargers in a draft-day trade that sent Eli Manning to the New York Giants. He didn’t start a game in his first two years with the Chargers, eventually taking over in 2006.
The Chargers made the playoffs in six seasons under Rivers, reaching the AFC Championship once and posting a 5-6 postseason record. Rivers holds the majority of the Chargers’ quarterback records and now is at the helm of the Indianapolis Colts.
