LaDainian Tomlinson officially retired as a San Diego Charger on Monday.

But Tomlinson told U-T San Diego on Saturday that he considered joining one of the Chargers' main rivals -- the Denver Broncos.

"The only team I really gave a thought to was the Broncos, because of Peyton (Manning)," Tomlinson told the Union-Tribune. "We talked. Tom (Condon, Tomlinson's agent) talked with them ... It made me pause a little (and think), 'Was this what I really want to do?' …

"I said, 'They got Peyton, they have a good defense already; they went deep in the playoffs with Tim Tebow, what are they going to do with Peyton?' I seriously thought about it."

But Tomlinson admitted the thought of him in Broncos orange was tough to imagine.

"(Winning a Super Bowl) was the only reason I considered Denver," Tomlinson told the Union-Tribune. "At the same time, I thought, 'How much is a Super Bowl ring really going to do for you at this point?' Because it's not with the team I really wanted to do it with."

The Denver Post reported that the Broncos never made an offer to the future Hall of Famer.

Tomlinson also told the Union-Tribune that he always hoped to retire after winning a Super Bowl with the Chargers.