A few days ago, LaDainian Tomlinson called it a “great honor” just to be a finalist. He had tried to push Canton out of his mind — even as media members spoke glowingly of his chances, as family and friends descended upon Houston in hope and anticipation.

The former Chargers running back can exhale: he is officially a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.

On Saturday, a 48-person selection committee voted Tomlinson as one of seven members of the Hall’s 2017 class, a group that also includes: quarterback Kurt Warner, who won a Super Bowl with the Rams and reached another with the Cardinals; running back Terrell Davis, a former 2,000-yard rusher who won two Super Bowls with the Broncos; linebacker Jason Taylor, who ranks seventh in NFL history with 139.5 sacks; kicker Morten Andersen, the league’s all-time leading scorer; safety Kenny Easley, the former Seahawks star who was this year’s lone senior finalist; and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

They will be inducted on Aug. 5 at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Big names such as receiver Terrell Owens and safety John Lynch were among the 15 finalists, but did not gain the 80 percent of voters necessary to earn a spot inside 2121 George Halas Drive.

Also left waiting is the late Don Coryell, who — despite never reaching a Super Bowl — revolutionized NFL offenses while coaching the St. Louis Cardinals (1973-77) and San Diego Chargers (1978-86). His tenure with the latter was particularly prolific, as he guided Dan Fouts to the first, second and fourth 4,000-yard passing seasons in NFL history. (Joe Namath had reached the milestone in 1967, but did it while the Jets were still in the AFL.)

Fouts became a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1993, and was one of two former players on this year’s selection committee. This was Coryell’s 30th year of eligibility, and his fourth time as a finalist.

Tomlinson’s case was simpler to make, becoming clear even a decade ago. In 2006, he unleashed a season for the ages, scoring a record 31 total touchdowns — a mark that no one has sniffed since. That November, in 35-27 win over the Broncos, he became the fastest to ever reach 100 career scores. It was his 89th game, four fewer than Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith had needed to reach triple digits.

“The rate that I was scoring touchdowns — at that point, I said, ‘You know what? I’m doing some things that no one has done before,’” Tomlinson said earlier this week. “I think that’s when you start to think about it. Because people start to talk about it at that point. You start to hear your name being thrown around as a Hall of Famer.”

What lies ahead now is a bit awkward. Like former Rams offensive lineman Orlando Pace a year ago, Tomlinson will be enveloped by pageantry — the speeches, the ceremonies — even as his former franchise moves to Los Angeles. This fall, Tomlinson will likely be recognized at Carson’s StubHub Center, a soccer stadium that will require additional seats to even hold 30,000 people.

But he will be most fondly remembered in San Diego.

“I have a unique experience and connection with that community,” Tomlinson said. “That’s what I will remember. They accepted me and my family like we were one of their own. It was truly, truly a special bond that I share with them.”

Bosa named top defensive rookie

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press on Saturday, an honor that felt all but ceremonial after his sterling debut.

Bosa’s rookie season was slowed by a contract holdout and a preseason hamstring injury, but even just 12 games showed how worthy he was of the third overall pick. Playing just three quarters of the season, the former Ohio State star notched 10.5 sacks, including two in his very first game. He is the first rookie to record double-digit sacks since Von Miller and Aldon Smith in 2011.

One more sack would have ranked Bosa among the league’s top six in 2016.

The former two-time All-American is also the first Charger to be named the AP’s top defensive rookie since linebacker Shawne Merriman after the 2005 season. Defensive end Leslie O’Neal, who eventually made six Pro Bowls, also earned the honor after being drafted eighth overall in 1986.

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.