Lionel 'Little Train' James, Former San Diego Chargers Star, Dies

SAN DIEGO, CA — Lionel "Little Train" James, star running back who played for the San Diego Chargers and Auburn University, and who became known as one of the greatest all-purpose threats in football in the 1980s, has died. He was 59.

The 5-foot-6, 170-pound running back died Friday after a lengthy illness, Auburn University said in a news release.

Nicknamed "Little Train" because of his size and interest in Lionel electric trains, James was a star at Auburn in the early 1980s. He later rushed for over 1,000 yards and added nearly 2,300 receiving yards in his five seasons with the San Diego Chargers.

"Lionel James – the Little Engine That Could," former Auburn University athletics director David Housel said in a news release." All of the things you want to think Auburn football is about, Lionel James summarized. He wasn't big in stature, but he was big in heart, and he symbolized Auburn football for a generation or more."

Born in 1962, James, a native of Albany, Georgia, led the Tigers in all-purpose yards in 1981 and 1982. In 1981, he led the Tigers in rushing and ranks 18th all time in rushing yards for the university with 2,068.

He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and was one of the most popular football players in the university's history. While serving as team captain in 1983, the Tigers won their first SEC title in 26 years, teaming up with future NFL superstar Bo Jackson, as well as Tommie Agee.

Agee called James one of the pound-for-pound "greatest all-purpose players to play the game of football."

"Always put the team first," Agee said in a statement. "He was one of the reasons why I came to Auburn. He showed me what the Auburn Family, the Auburn team, was all about on my official visit."

The Chargers selected James with their fifth-round pick in 1984. He played five seasons for the team and set an NFL record with over 2,500 all-purpose yards in 1985.

James was named team MVP that year after leading the Chargers in rushing, receiving and kickoff and punt return yards. He also led the AFC in receptions that season with 86 and set a record for receiving yards by a running back with just over 1,000.

After his NFL career ended in 1988, James graduated from Auburn and later went on to become a tight ends coach under Terry Bowden from 1996-97.

James inspired younger players who saw him as a role model.

“You get to the point where you just say, ‘I’m going to prove to them I can do it,’” James said years after retiring. “In this league you can be 6-4, 6-5; that doesn’t mean you can play running back. You can be 5-2, 5-3 and do some things those 6-5 guys can’t do.”