From high school All-Star games to shared milestones in San Diego, discover how two Texas legends forged a lifelong bond that propelled their historic paths to the Hall of Fame.
LaDainian Tomlinson's NFL career is filled with memorable accomplishments, but his impact on the people around him remains an important part of his legacy.
One of those relationships was with Drew Brees, who recently reflected on the special connection the two developed long before they became stars with the San Diego Chargers.
Brees discussed Tomlinson during his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech, looking back on the early years of their careers and the unlikely path that brought the two Texas natives together.
Their relationship actually began before either player reached the NFL.
"Drafted the same year, married the same year, won the Walter Payton Man of the Year the same year. We grew up together quickly in this league. I credit so many things in my career to the five years I spent with the Chargers," Brees said.
Tomlinson and Brees grew up roughly two hours apart in South Texas and played together on the South Texas All-Star team in 1997.
Their paths crossed again several years later when both became Heisman Trophy finalists.
That connection eventually led them to the Chargers, who selected Tomlinson in the first round and Brees in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
The two had even talked about the possibility of becoming teammates before it actually happened.
For Tomlinson, the pairing turned into the beginning of one of the most productive stretches of his legendary career.
He quickly established himself as one of the NFL's premier running backs, while Brees developed into the quarterback who would eventually become one of the greatest passers in league history.
Brees credited his five seasons with the Chargers as an important part of his development, while making it clear how much Tomlinson meant to him personally.
Their careers continued on separate paths after Brees left San Diego for New Orleans, but the friendship remained.
For TCU fans, Tomlinson's connection with Brees is another reminder of just how special his football journey has been.
The former Horned Frog entered the NFL as one of the most highly regarded running backs in the 2001 draft and went on to build a Hall of Fame career.
The two Texas products grew up together in football, entered the NFL together, and helped shape each other's early professional careers.
Decades later, Brees' words serve as another testament to the lasting impact Tomlinson made on those fortunate enough to share the field with him.
