One NFL legend every team wishes they could bring back in 2021
By Randy Gurzi
Los Angeles Chargers: Junior Seau, Linebacker
Quarterback Justin Herbert had a fantastic season in 2020 for the Los Angeles Chargers and hopes are high that they can start to turn things around. He set the NFL record for passing touchdowns by a rookie with 31 and wasn’t far behind the record for yards as he had 4,336 which was close to the 4,374 Andrew Luck had in 2012.
Los Angeles is hoping that an improved offensive line will help him take the next step as a passer. Something else that could help would be adding a generational talent at running back like LaDanian Tomlinson.
LT spent nine years in San Diego and had 12,490 yards rushing and 3,955 yards passing with a total of 153 total touchdowns. He would be huge for Herbert and the offense but he’s still not the choice here. We saw Tomlinson paired with an elite quarterback in Philip Rivers and while they got close, they never made it to the Super Bowl.
A former Chargers star who did make it to the big game, however, was linebacker Junior Seau. Arguably the best Charger of all time, Seau led a team that went to Super Bowl XXIX in 1995. They lost to the 49ers but they were still a great team — led by a stellar defense.
Seau was the face of that unit and had 155 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He was also able to play for what seemed like an eternity. Seau spent 13 seasons in San Diego and had 842 tackles with 47 sacks, 15 picks, and 11 forced fumbles. From there, he spent three seasons in Miami and another four in New England, playing until he was 40.
Another life that was lost too early, Seau was the face of the Chargers and if he were back on this roster in 2021, their defense would be vastly improved.