The 'San Diego Chargers' are a professional
American football team based in
San Diego, California. They are currently members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the
National Football League (NFL). Originally called the 'Los Angeles Chargers', the club began play in
1960 as a charter member of the American Football League
[1]. The club spent its first season in
Los Angeles, California before moving to San Diego in 1961
[2].
The Chargers won one AFL title in
1963 and reached the AFL playoffs five times and the AFL Championship four times before joining the NFL (
1970) as part of the
AFL-NFL Merger[2]. In the 34 years since then, the Chargers have made seven trips to the playoffs and three appearances in the AFC Championship game
[2]. At the end of the
1994 season, the Chargers faced the
San Francisco 49ers in
Super Bowl XXIX and fell 49-26
[2]. The Chargers have five players and one coach enshrined in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in
Canton, Ohio:
wide receiver Lance Alworth (
1962-1970),
quarterback Dan Fouts (
1973-
1987), head coach/
general manager Sid Gillman (1960-
1969,
1971), wide receiver
Charlie Joiner (
1976-
1986),
offensive lineman Ron Mix (1960-1969) and
tight end Kellen Winslow (
1979-1987)
[6].
Franchise history
1959-1969
Established with seven other American Football League teams in 1959, in 1960, the Chargers began AFL play in Los Angeles
[2]. The Chargers' original owner was hotel heir
Barron Hilton, son of
Hilton Hotels founder
Conrad Hilton[2]. The Chargers only spent one season in Los Angeles before moving to
San Diego in 1961
[2]. The early AFL years of the San Diego Chargers were highlighted by the outstanding play of
wide receiver Lance Alworth 543 receptions for 10,266 yards in his 11 AFL/NFL season career. In addition he set the pro football record of consecutive games with a reception (96) during his career
[10].
Their only coach for the ten year life of the AFL was Sid Gillman
[2], a Hall of Famer
[12]. who was considered the foremost authority on the forward passing offense of his era
[13]. With players such as Alworth,
Paul Lowe,
Keith Lincoln and
John Hadl[14], the high-scoring Chargers won divisional crowns five of the league’s first six seasons and the AFL title in 1963 with a 51-10 victory over the
Boston Patriots[2].
They also played defense, as indicated by their professional football record 49 pass interceptions in 1961
[16], and featured AFL Rookie of the Year defensive end
Earl Faison[17]. The Chargers were the originators of the term "Fearsome Foursome" to describe their all-star defensive line, anchored by Faison and
Ernie Ladd (the latter also dabbled in
professional wrestling)
[18]. The phrase was later appropriated by the Los Angeles Rams
[19]. Hilton sold the Chargers to a group headed by
Eugene Klein and
Sam Schulman in August 1966
[20]. The following year the Chargers began "head to head" competition with the older NFL with a preseason loss to the Detroit Lions
[2]. The Chargers defeated the defending Super Bowl III champion New York Jets 34-27 before a record San Diego Stadium crowd of 54,042 on September 29, 1969
[2]. Alworth once again lead the team in receptions with 64 and 1,003 yards with 4 touchdowns
[2]. The team also saw Gillman step down due to health and offensive backfield coach
Charlie Waller promoted to head coach after the completion of the regular season. Gillman did remain with the club as the general manager
[2].
1970-1981
In 1970 the San Diego Chargers were placed into the AFC West division after the NFL merger with the AFL
[25][26]. But by then, the Chargers fell on hard times; Gillman, who had returned as general manager, stepped down in 1971, and many of the Charger players from the
1960s had already either retired or traded
[27]. The Chargers acquired veteran players like
Deacon Jones[28],
Johnny Unitas[29], however it was at the later stages of their careers and the team struggled placing third or fourth in the AFC West each year from 1970 to
1978.
1978 was marked by the "
Holy Roller" game. It was a game-winning play executed by the
Oakland Raiders against the Chargers on
September 10, in San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium
[30]. What many Charger fans believed should have been called an incomplete pass (and possibly intentional grounding) was seen as a fumble and the rest of the play involved illegal batting of the ball
[31]. The officials did not think the illegal actions were obvious enough to call a penalty so the play ended in a touchdown
[31]. With 10 seconds left in the game, the Raiders had possession of the ball at the Chargers' 14-yard line, trailing 20-14. Raiders quarterback
Ken Stabler took the snap and found himself about to be sacked by Chargers linebacker
Woody Lowe on the 24-yard line. Stabler lost the ball, and it rolled forward towards the San Diego goal line. Running back
Pete Banaszak tried to recover the ball on the 12-yard line, but could not keep his footing, and the ball was pushed even closer to the end zone. Raiders tight end
Dave Casper was the next player to reach the ball but he also could not get a handle on it. He batted and kicked the ball into the end zone, where he fell on it for the game-tying touchdown as time ran out. With the ensuing extra point by
placekicker Errol Mann, the Raiders won, 21-20
[31].
1979 marked a turning point for the Chargers franchise as
The Sporting News named team general manager
John Sanders NFL Executive of the Year after balloting of other NFL executives
[34]. Fouts set an NFL record with his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game, in a game in which he threw for 303 yards against the Raiders
[35]. The team coached by
Don Coryell (with an offense nicknamed "Air Coryell," featured running back
Chuck Muncie along with Winslow, Joiner and wide receiver
John Jefferson) clinched their first playoff berth in 14 years with a 35-0 victory against the
New Orleans Saints. On
December 17, the Chargers defeated the
Denver Broncos 17-7 for their first AFC West division title since the AFL-NFL merger before a national
Monday Night Football television audience and their home crowd
[35]. Their time in the
playoffs was short as they would lose to the
Houston Oilers 17-14 loss in the divisional round. Ron Mix became the second AFL player and second Charger to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, during halftime of the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
[35].
The
1980 team saw Fouts set a club record with 444 yards passing in the Chargers' 44-7 victory over the
New York Giants[38]. Kellen Winslow caught 10 passes for 171 yards and Chargers clinched their second straight AFC West title by defeating the
Pittsburgh Steelers 26-17 and finished the regular season with an 11-5 record. In the
playoffs, they won the divisional round 20-14 over the
Buffalo Bills. However, they fell one game shy of
Super Bowl XV in a 34-27 loss to the eventual-champion Raiders.
In
1981, the Chargers won their third straight AFC West title with a 10-6 season. They traded wide receiver John Jefferson to the
Green Bay Packers after he held out for a increase in salary. Defensive end
Fred Dean also became involved in a hold out and was traded to the 49ers. He would go on to lead the 49ers and the NFL with 17.5 sacks and win his first Super Bowl ring
[39]. In the
playoffs, they managed to outlast the
Miami Dolphins in the divisional round, 41-38, in a game that became known as
The Epic in Miami. The temperature was 85°F with high humidity (29.4°C) at the
Miami Orange Bowl[40], but it did not stop either team's offense. The Chargers were lead by quarterback Dan Fouts who made the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row
[41], setting a NFL single season record at that point and time of 4,802 yards and 33 touchdowns
[42]. The Dolphins were lead by head coach
Don Shula and featured a defense that gave up the fifth-fewest points in the NFL in the regular season
[43].
This game set playoff records for the most points scored in a playoff game (79)
[44], the most total yards by both teams (1,036)
[45], and most passing yards by both teams (809)
[45]. Chargers placekicker
Rolf Benirschke eventually kicked the winning 29-yard field goal after 13:52 of overtime to help San Diego beat Miami, 41-38. The image of an exhausted tight end Kellen Winslow, who finished the game with 13 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown, being helped off the field by two of his Chargers teammates has been replayed countless times. Kellen Winslow was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995
[47].
However, the eventual-AFC Champion
Cincinnati Bengals, playing in their first
AFC Championship Game, defeated the Chargers 27-7 in what became known as the
Freezer Bowl. The temperature of nine degrees below zero with a wind-chill factor of minus 59 makes this the coldest weather conditions for a title game in the history of the NFL
[48]. Chargers owner
Gene Klein tried to get the Bengals to postpone the game but he was turned down as the Bengals felt that the weather would be a advantage for them versus the Chargers
[49].
1982-1993
In a rematch of the 1981
American Football Conference Championship Game the Chargers played the Bengals in
San Diego on December 20th 1982. The Chargers would generate a offensive total yardage record of 661 (501 yards passing 175 yards rushing) that still stands as the most in team history in defeating
Cincinnati, 50-34
[50] Klein cut salary in preparation of selling the team, sending defensive linemen
Gary "Big Hands" Johnson and
Louie Kelcher to San Francisco, where they would join Dean and offensive tackle
Billy Shields for another 49ers championship in
Super Bowl XXIV[51].
The Chargers made it back to the
playoffs during the
strike shortened 1982 season, but after beating the Steelers in the first round, they lost to the Dolphins in a rematch of their playoff game from the previous season 34-13
[52]. That loss began a slide for the Chargers, who from
1983 to
1991 failed to make the
National Football League playoffs every season.
In
1984 Alex Spanos purchased a majority interest in San Diego from Klein on
August 1[52]. Benirschke was named "Miller Man of the Year" and Joiner set an NFL record with his 650th pass reception in the fourth quarter of the game at Pittsburgh
[52]. In
1985 guard Ed White set an NFL record by playing in 241 NFL games, most all-time among offensive linemen.
Al Saunders was named the seventh head coach in Chargers history in 1986 following the resignation of Coryell
[52]. In 1987 Joiner retired to become receivers coach of the Chargers. The Chargers finished with an 8-7 record, their first winning record since 1982, despite winding up with six straight losses. In
1988 Fouts retired after 15-year career in which he set seven NFL records and 42 club records, and became the NFL's second most prolific passer of all-time with 43,040 yards. Fouts's jersey number (14) was retired at halftime of "Dan Fouts Day" game in San Diego
[52]. In
1989 Dan Henning, a former Chargers quarterback,
Washington Redskins assistant, and
Atlanta Falcons head coach, was named the eighth head coach in Chargers history
[52].
Marion Butts set a club record with 39 carries and a team rookie record with 176 yards in Chargers' 20-13 win in Kansas City
[52]. After a three-year stint as Director of Football Operations,
Steve Ortmayer was released after the season and replaced by
Bobby Beathard[52].
Henning's tenure with the Chargers lasted three seasons as
Bobby Ross was hired as head coach in
1992 and the Chargers acquired quarterback Stan Humphries in a trade with Redskins
[60]. The Chargers would lose their first four games of the season and come back to became the first 0-4 team to make the
playoffs as they won 11 of the last 12 games and clinched the AFC West title. Ross was named
NFL Coach of the Year for the Chargers' dramatic turnaround by
Pro Football Weekly[61][62]. In the first round of the playoffs, the Chargers shut out the
Kansas City Chiefs 17-0, but the Dolphins shut the Chargers out in the divisional playoffs to eliminate the Chargers. In
1993, the Chargers finished 8-8 (fourth in their division)
[61].
1994-2003
In the 1994 season, the Chargers made their first and, so far, only
Super Bowl appearance, against the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX. They got to the Super Bowl by winning their first six regular season games, the only NFL team to do so in 1994, and finished the season 11-6. Quarterback
Stan Humphries and wide receiver
Tony Martin combined on a 99-yard touchdown completion to tie an NFL record during a defeat of the
Seattle Seahawks, 27-10. They would become the 1994 AFC West Division champions behind a defense led by
linebacker Junior Seau,
defensive tackles
Reuben Davis and
Shawn Lee,
defensive end Leslie O'Neal and an offense keyed by running back
Natrone Means, Humphries and Martin. The Chargers had upset victories over the Dolphins and Steelers in the AFC
playoffs. Despite those two close triumphs (22-21 against the Dolphins in the Divisional Round, and 17-13 against the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game), the Chargers lost Super Bowl XXIX to the 49ers, who were led by quarterback
Steve Young (
Super Bowl MVP) and wide receiver
Jerry Rice. Despite the lopsided loss in the Super Bowl, Beathard, who traded for or drafted the bulk of the Chargers roster
[64], and who hired coach Ross, was named the NFL's smartest man by
Sports Illustrated[65], and became the only general manager to lead three different teams to the Super Bowl (Chargers, Dolphins, Redskins)
[66].
The Chargers follow-up year in
1995 didn't bring the same success of the previous season, but the team still managed to get into the
playoffs with a five-game winning streak to end the season at 9-7. However, in the first round, the Chargers were eliminated by the
Indianapolis Colts in a 35-20 defeat
[67]. In 1996, Running back
Rodney Culver and his wife, Karen, were killed in the crash of
ValuJet Airlines Flight 592 in the
Florida Everglades. Culver was the second player in team history to die while on the active roster after
David Griggs was killed in a one-car accident in
Davie, Florida 11 months earlier
[61]. 1997 would find Ross and Beathard at odds with one another and would result in Ross and his staff being released
[61]. The Chargers selected
Kevin Gilbride to become their new head coach
[61]. Gilbride, whose coaching background with the
Jacksonville Jaguars and Oilers featured a more open passing attack would mark a major change in offensive style from the ball control ground game of Ross
[71]. Beathard drafted quarterback
Ryan Leaf after trading several players and draft choices to the
Arizona Cardinals in order to move up to the second pick in the
1998 NFL Draft. The Chargers would see the team struggle in pass protection resulting in Humphries suffering several concussions and his retirement from the game
[72]. Gilbright was replaced by interim head coach
June Jones, who was on the Chargers' staff before the hire
[61]. Jones would leave the team at the end of the season to coach at the
University of Hawaii and the Chargers would name former
Oregon State University head coach
Mike Riley as their new head coach
[61]. Leaf wound up having a disappointing career with the Chargers after a great deal of controversy with both the Charger management as well as the press and his teammates
[51]. His failure to be the player the team envisioned was seen as a black mark on the franchise and will be remembered by some as one of the worst draft/trades in the history of pro football
[51]. Quarterback
Jim Harbaugh, who was acquired in trade with the
Baltimore Ravens for a conditional draft choice in 2000, became the Chargers starting quarterback. Beathard retired in April 2000 and was replaced January 2001 by
John Butler, former general manager of the Bills
[77]. From
1996 to
2003, the Chargers had eight-straight seasons where they were .500 or worse
[78].
2001 saw
Norv Turner, the former head coach of the Redskins, named offensive coordinator by Riley
[79]. Turner would go on to install the offense that he coached with the
Dallas Cowboys under
Ernie Zampese, former offense coordinator during the Coryell era
[80]. The Chargers signed
Heisman Trophy winner free agent quarterback
Doug Flutie, formerly with the Bills and
traded the team's first overall selection in the
2001 NFL Draft to the
Atlanta Falcons for the first round selection (fifth overall) and third-round selection in the same draft. In addition the Chargers obtained wide receiver/kick returner
Tim Dwight and the Falcons' second-round draft selection in the
2002 NFL Draft. The Chargers used those selections in the 2001 draft to select
Texas Christian University running back
LaDainian Tomlinson and
Purdue University quarterback
Drew Brees [79].
Hired as a replacement to Riley,
Marty Schottenheimer's Chargers squad opened the 2002 season with four straight victories making him the only coach in team history to win his first four games
[79].
Butler would succumb to cancer after a nine-month struggle in April of 2003
[79]. Replacing Butler was
A. J. Smith, who was named Executive Vice President-General Manager, replacing his close friend. Smith and Butler had worked together with the Bills playing key roles with Buffalo's Super Bowl teams
[84]. In 2003, the Chargers traded Seau to the Dolphins for a draft pick in
2004 NFL Draft. Seau was selected to
2003 Pro Bowl, his 12th Pro Bowl selection of his career, and in his final season with the Chargers, he was chosen by teammates as the recipient of the
Emil Karas Award as the team’s Most Inspirational Player
[85]. Also in 2003, Tomlinson accumalated 195 total yards from scrimmage in a late season game against the Packers to raise his season total to 2,011 and became the first player in team history and the eighth player in NFL history to record consecutive 2,000-yard seasons
[79]. Tomlinson also became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season
[79].
2004-present
Although the Chargers were tied with three other teams for the worst record of the 2003 NFL season, the league’s tie-breaking system gave San Diego the number one pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. With this pick, the Chargers selected Quarterback
Eli Manning from the
University of Mississippi despite Manning's stated desire to play elsewhere
[88]. Giants general manager
Ernie Accorsi, who had been in trade negotiations for several weeks before the draft with the Chargers, selected quarterback
Philip Rivers fourth and traded him along with additional draft picks to the Chargers
[89]. Rivers was expected to compete for the starting quarterback job, but he held out of training camp in a contract dispute
[90].
Drew Brees, who received the majority of snaps at quarterback during Rivers' hold out, would retain the starting quarterback position
[91]. The team earned a trip back to the post-season in
2004 by capturing the AFC West division title with a 12-4 regular season record. The Chargers entered the first round of the
playoffs but were eliminated by the
New York Jets, who won in overtime 20-17. Rookie kicker
Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yard field goal that would have advanced San Diego into the next round, thus opening the door for a Jets victory. Despite an abrupt ending to their season, Head Coach
Marty Schottenheimer was named NFL Coach of the Year for the season, and Brees was named
NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
During the
2005 NFL Draft, the Chargers drafted linebacker
Shawne Merriman with a draft pick acquired from the Giants in the Eli Manning trade, who would go on to become a selection to the
2006 Pro Bowl and the 2005 Defensive
NFL Rookie of the Year Award recipient. The team then used their second first round selection on defensive tackle
Luis Castillo.The Chargers started the season without tight end
Antonio Gates as he was suspended two games by Smith for holding out in training camp
[92]. The 2005 season saw
LaDainian Tomlinson's 18-game touchdown scoring streak end as Kaeding had a field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown in a 20-17 loss to the
Philadelphia Eagles on the road
[93]. Facing the 13-0 Colts on the road, the Chargers took a 16-0 lead into the third quarter of the game, but the Colts responded with 17 points of their own to take a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Chargers would retake the lead on a field goal by Kaeding then scored again on an 83-yard touchdown run by
Michael Turner. However a week later, the Chargers lost on the road to the Chiefs as an injured Tomlinson rushed for only 47 yards. The Chargers would go on to lose their season finale to the Broncos, with Brees suffering a dislocated shoulder to end the Chargers' 9-7 season.
Logo and uniforms
Chargers' AFL logo 1966-1969
Chargers AFL logo
Except for color changes, the Chargers have basically used the logo of an arc-shaped lightning bolt since the team debuted in 1960. During its period in the AFL, the club also used a shield logo that featured a horsehead, a lightning bolt, and the word "Chargers".
From 1960 to 1973, the team's uniform design consisted of either Electric blue ("sky" or "powder" blue, but technically called Collegiate blue) or white jerseys, both with gold lightning bolts on the shoulders. The helmets were white and had both the arc-shaped lightning bolt logo, in gold, and the player's number. At first, the team wore white pants before switching to gold in 1966.
In 1974, the sky blue was changed to dark royal blue. The helmet was also changed to dark blue and the players' numbers were removed. From 1978 through 1983, the Chargers wore their white jerseys at home, coinciding with the hiring of coach Don Coryell, but Coryell switched the Chargers to their blue jerseys at home starting in 1984. With the exception of the 1991 season and other sporadic home games since, San Diego wears its blue jerseys at home.
From the late 1980's to 2000, the Chargers traditionally wore their white uniforms during their two home games during preseason and then switched to their black uniforms for the regular season. Beginning in 2001, the Chargers started wearing white during September home games mainly due to the heat and switch to black in late October. Since 2005, the Chargers started wearing their dark uniforms for all their home games including preseason and regular season.
In 1985, the Chargers started using navy blue and returned to wearing white pants. The team's uniform design was next revamped in 1988. It featured an even darker shade of navy blue. The lightning bolts on the jerseys and helmets were white with gold trim. In 1990, the team started to wear navy pants with their white jerseys. The Chargers went with all-white combinations in
1997 and
2001, only to have the blue pants make a comeback. On
October 27,
2003, the Chargers wore their navy pants with their navy jersey for a ''Monday Night Football'' game versus the Miami Dolphins that was played at
Sun Devil Stadium, then the home of the
Arizona Cardinals, due to wildfires in southern California. This remains the only game in which the Chargers have worn the all-dark combination.
Since 2002, the Chargers have used the early-1960s uniform design as alternate jerseys, which many football fans (both of the Chargers and of other teams) wish to bring back full-time. Right now, the team will continue to use a variation of them (see below) as an alternate jersey.
On
March 9,
2007, the Chargers unveiled on their web site their first uniform redesign since 1988. The team formally unveiled this new uniform set, which will mix old and new styles, in a private team-only event on
March 14. Navy blue remains the primary color on the home jersey, but the familiar lightning bolt was reverted to yellow, but now with navy and Collegiate (powder) blue trim, the latter color a nod to the 1960s uniforms and has been moved to the sides of the shoulders from the top, and includes a new numbering font and word mark in white with yellow and light blue trim. The pants also will have a redesigned lightning bolt in yellow with light blue trim on a navy stripe. Additionally, the team pays tribute to other uniform features from their history by wearing a metallic white helmet with a navy face mask with the newly revamped bolt in yellow with navy, white and light blue trim and white pants. The road white jerseys with navy pants and alternate light blue jerseys to be worn with white pants have also been redesigned with the new scheme.
Season-by-season records
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | 'Los Angeles Chargers (AFL)'
|-
|1960 || 10 || 4 || 0 || '1st AFL West' || Lost
AFL Championship (Oilers) 24-16
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | 'San Diego Chargers (AFL)'
|-
|1961 || 12 || 2 || 0 || '1st AFL West' || Lost
AFL Championship (Oilers) 10-3
|-
|1962 || 4 || 10 || 0 || 3rd AFL West || --
|-
|1963 || 11 || 3 || 0 || '1st AFL West' || 'Won
AFL Championship' (
B. Patriots) 51-10
|-
|1964 || 8 || 5 || 1 || '1st AFL West' || Lost
AFL Championship (Bills) 20-7
|-
|1965 || 9 || 2 || 3 || '1st AFL West' || Lost
AFL Championship (Bills) 23-0
|-
|1966 || 7 || 6 || 1 || 3rd AFL West || --
|-
|1967 || 8 || 5 || 1 || 3rd AFL West || --
|-
|1968 || 9 || 5 || 0 || 3rd AFL West || --
|-
|1969 || 8 || 6 || 0 || 3rd AFL West || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | 'Merged into NFL'
|-
|1970 || 5 || 6 || 3 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|1971 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|1972 || 4 || 9 || 1 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1973 || 2 || 11 || 1 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1974 || 5 || 9 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1975 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1976 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|1977 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|1978 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1979 || 12 || 4 || 0 || '1st AFC West' || Lost
Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 17-14
|-
|1980 || 11 || 5 || 0 || '1st AFC West' || 'Won'
Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 20-14
Lost
Conference Championship (Raiders) 34-27
|-
|1981 || 10 || 6 || 0 || '1st AFC West' || 'Won'
Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 41-38
Lost
Conference Championship (Bengals) 27-7
|-
|1982 || 6 || 3 || 0 || 5th AFC Conf.+ || 'Won'
First Round (Steelers) 31-28
Lost
Second Round (Dolphins) 34-14
|-
|1983 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1984 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|1985 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1986 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|1987 || 8 || 7 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|1988 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1989 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|1990 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1991 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|1992 || 11 || 5 || 0 || '1st AFC West' || 'Won'
Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 17-0
Lost
Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 31-0
|-
|1993 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|1994 || 11 || 5 || 0 || '1st AFC West' || 'Won'
Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 22-21
'Won'
Conference Championship (Steelers) 17-13
Lost Super Bowl XXIX (49ers) 49-26
|-
|1995 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 2nd AFC West || Lost
Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 35-20
|-
|1996 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|1997 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|1998 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|1999 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|2000 || 1 || 15 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|2001 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 5th AFC West || --
|-
|2002 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|2003 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 4th AFC West || --
|-
|2004 || 12 || 4 || 0 || '1st AFC West' || Lost
Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 20-17
|-
|
2005 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 3rd AFC West || --
|-
|
2006 || 14 || 2 || 0 || '1st AFC West' || Lost
Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 24-21
|-
|
2007 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 350 || 367 || 11
|colspan="2"| (1960-2006, including AFL & NFL playoffs)
★ = Current Standing
+ = Due to a strike-shortened season in 1982, all teams were ranked by conference instead of division.
Players of note
Current roster
Pro Football Hall of Famers
★
Lance Alworth
★
Dan Fouts
★
Sid Gillman
★
Charlie Joiner
★
Deacon Jones
★
Ron Mix
★
Kellen Winslow
Retired numbers
★ '14'
Dan Fouts, Quarterback, 1973-87
★ '19'
Lance Alworth, Wide receiver, 1962-1970
Chargers Hall of Fame
The Chargers have a team Hall of Fame with the following members:
★ 56
Emil Karas, Linebacker, 1960-66, inducted 1976
★ 55
Frank Buncom, Linebacker, 1962-68, inducted 1976
★ 53
Bob Laraba, Linebacker, 1960-61, inducted 1976
★ 38
Jacque MacKinnon, Running back, 1961-69, inducted 1976
★ 19
Lance Alworth, Wide receiver, 1962-70, inducted 1977
★ 74
Ron Mix, Offensive tackle, 1960-69, inducted 1978
★ 23
Paul Lowe, Running back, 1960-68, inducted 1979
★
Barron Hilton, team founder-owner, 1960-66, inducted 1980
★ 22
Keith Lincoln, Running back, 1961-68, inducted 1980
★ 77
Ernie Ladd, Defensive tackle, 1961-65, inducted 1981
★ 78
Walt Sweeney, Guard, 1963-69, inducted 1981
★ 21
John Hadl, Quarterback, 1962-72, inducted 1983
★ 50
Chuck Allen, Linebacker, 1961-69, inducted 1984
★ 27
Gary Garrison, Wide receiver, 1966-76, inducted 1985
★
Sid Gillman, head coach, 1961-69 & 1971, inducted 1985
★ 86
Earl Faison, Defensive end, 1961-66, inducted 1986
★ 14
Dan Fouts, Quarterback, 1973-87, inducted 1993
★ 18
Charlie Joiner, Wide receiver, 1976-86, inducted 1993
★
Don Coryell, head coach, 1978-86, inducted 1994
★ 45
Speedy Duncan, Cornerback, 1964-70, inducted 1995
★ 70
Russ Washington, Ofensive tackle, 1968-82, inducted 1995
★ 80
Kellen Winslow, Tight end, 1979-87, inducted 1995
★
George Pernicano, team executive, since 1961, inducted 1996
★ 6
Rolf Benirschke, Kicker, 1978-87, inducted 1997
★ 22
Gill Byrd, Cornerback 1983-92, inducted 1998
★ 79
Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, Defensive tackle, 1975-84, inducted 1999
★ 63
Doug Wilkerson, Guard, 1971-84, inducted 2000
★ 89
Wes Chandler, Wide receiver, 1981-87, inducted 2001
★ 12
Stan Humphries, Quarterback, 1992-97, inducted 2002
★
Bobby Ross, head coach, 1992-96, inducted 2002
★ 74
Louie Kelcher, Defensive tackle, 1975-83, inducted 2003
★ 62
Don Macek, Center, 1976-89, inducted 2004
★ 67
Ed White, Guard, 1978-85, inducted 2004
Alworth, Mix, Hadl, Joiner, Coryell, Gillman, Garrison, Fouts, White, Winslow, Faison, Benirschke, Lincoln, Washington, Humphries, Ladd and Wilkerson are also members of the "San Diego Hall of Champions", which is open to athletes from the San Diego area as well as those who played for San Diego-based professional and
collegiate teams.
Other notable alumni
★
Gary Anderson - Kicker
★
Darren Bennett - Punter
★
David Boston - Wide Receiver
★
Drew Brees - Quarterback
★
Stan Brock
★
Willie Buchanon
★
Marion Butts
★
John Carney
★
Darren Carrington
★
Curtis Conway
★
Rodney Culver
★
Fred Dean
★
Tim Dwight
★
Donnie Edwards
★
Miller Farr
★
Doug Flutie
★
Mike Fuller
★
Dennis Gibson
★
Darrien Gordon
★
Jim Harbaugh
★
James Harris
★
Rodney Harrison
★
John Jefferson
★
Jack Kemp
★
Linden King
★
Woodrow Lowe
★
Gary Plummer
★
Dickie Post
★
Paul Maguire
★
Tony Martin
★
Natrone Means
★
Eric Metcalf - Return Specialist/Wide Receiver
★
Chuck Muncie
★
Leslie O'Neal
★
Alfred Pupunu
★
Stanley Richard
★
Sean Salisbury
★
Junior Seau - Linebacker
★
Billy Shields
★
Billy Ray Smith
★
Neil Smith
★
Marcellus Wiley
★
Don Woods
★
Ernie Wright
★
Wilbur Young
Coaches of note
Head coaches
★
Sid Gillman (1960-1969)
★
Charlie Waller (1969-1970)
★
Harland Svare (1971-1973)
★
Ron Waller (1973)
★
Tommy Prothro (1974-1978)
★
Don Coryell (1978-1986)
★
Al Saunders (1986-1988)
★
Dan Henning (1989-1991)
★
Bobby Ross (1992-1996)
★
Kevin Gilbride (1997-1998)
★
June Jones (interim) (1998)
★
Mike Riley (1999-2001)
★
Marty Schottenheimer (2002-2006)
★
Norv Turner (2007-Present)
Current staff
Radio and television
The Chargers' flagship station is
KIOZ 105.3FM, commonly known as "Rock 105."
Josh Lewin and
Hank Bauer comprise the broadcast team. Past Chargers radio broadcasters have included
Tom Kelly,
Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton,
Dan Rowe and
Ted Leitner. Most preseason games are televised on
KFMB in San Diego and
KCBS in Los Angeles. The announcers were
Ron Pitts and Billy Ray Smith.
Since the Los Angeles market is within the Chargers' 75-mile radius (which prohibits broadcasts of Charger games on national radio during the regular season), the Chargers Radio Network has a secondary flagship station for Los Angeles:
KSPN AM-710, in Los Angeles and Orange County. The previous Los Angeles flagship was
KMPC AM-1540 for several years.
Notes and references
1. Chronology Chargers.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Hall of Famers by Franchise Pro Football Hall of Fame. Accessed 29 July 2007.
7.
8.
9.
10. LANCE ALWORTH Pro Football Hall of Fame. Accessed 29 July 2007.
11.
12. SID GILLMAN Pro Football Hall of Fame. Accessed 29 July 2007.
13.
14. Chargers Hall of Fame Chargers.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
15.
16. FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE BETTER THAN EVER, RIGHT? Professional Football Researchers Association. Accessed 29 July 2007.
17. NFL's Rookie of the Year About.com: Football. Accessed 29 July 2007.
18. Big Cat Ernie Ladd World Wrestling Entertainment. Accessed 29 July 2007.
19. "Fearsome Foursome" The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Accessed 29 July 2007.
20. NFL History: 1961-1970 NFL.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25. NFL Franchise Year-by-Year Genealogy Football.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
26.
27. Chronology 1970-1979 Chargers.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
28. Deacon Jones - 'Secretary Of Defense' NFLPlayers.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
29. Legendary Quarterback Johnny Unitas Dies at 69 CMG Worldwide. Accessed 29 July 2007.
30. Inside the 'Holy Roller' play NFL.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
31.
32.
33.
34. TSN Award Winners: NFL Executive of the Year Sporting News. Accessed 1 July 2007.
35.
36.
37.
38. Chronology 1980-1989 Chargers.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
39. Say It Ain't So: San Diego Chargers Sports Illustrated. Accessed 4 August 2007.
40. 76: Winslow helped off field after Chargers' OT win ESPN.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
41. DAN FOUTS Pro Football Hall of Fame. Accessed 29 July 2007.
42. Dan Fouts statistics Pro Football Reference. Accessed 29 July 2007.
43. 1981 NFL Standings, Stats and Awards Database Football. Accessed 29 July 2007.
44. 1981 Chargers/Dolphins Playoff Game Honored Chargers Stats. Accessed 29 July 2007.
45.
46.
47. KELLEN WINSLOW Pro Football Hall of Fame. Accessed 29 July 2007.
48. Freezer Bowl Referee. Accessed 29 July 2007.
49. Frozen in time Bengals.com. Accessed 1 July 2007.
50. San Diego Chargers 2006 Media Guide, p. 265. Accessed 29 July 2007.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60. Chronology 1990-1999 Chargers.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
61.
62. Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of the Year Answers.com. Accessed 1 July 2007.
63.
64. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1994 ROSTER Chargers Stats. Accessed 29 July 2007.
65. Will history repeat in San Diego? CBS Sportsline. Accessed 4 August 2007.
66. Super Bowl recipe requires many ingredients USA Today. Accessed 4 August 2007.
67. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1995 ROSTER Chargers-Stats. Accessed 4 August 2007.
68.
69.
70.
71. Chargers are passing on a run for success The Sporting News. Accessed 6 August 2007.
72. With new coaching staff, Chargers tackling change San Diego Union-Tribune. Accessed 6 August 2007.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77. Chronology 2000- Chargers.com. Accessed 29 July 2007.
78. Chargers teams by years Chargers-Stats. Accessed 4 August 2007.
79.
80. Transcript: Troy Aikman's Hall of Fame speech Dallas Morning News. Accessed 6 August 2007.
81.
82.
83.
84. A.J. Smith Chargers.com. Accessed 9 August 2007.
85. Junior Seau #55 NFLPLAYERS.com. Accessed 9 August 2007.
86.
87.
88. We hardly knew ye, Eli, thankfully so San Diego Union-Tribune. Accessed 4 August 2007.
89. Bolt of luck Sports Illustrated. Accessed 4 August 2007.
90. San Diego threatening to take money off table ESPN.com. Accessed 4 August 2007.
91. Chargers end preseason with a bang against 49ers San Diego Union-Tribune. Accessed 4 August 2007.
92. Chargers GM shouldn't play hardball with football talent San Diego Union-Tribune. Accessed 7 August 2007.
93. Chargers second-guessing themselves after miscues lead to season's fourth close loss San Diego Union-Tribune. Accessed 7 August 2007.
External links
★
San Diego Chargers official web site
★
San Diego Chargers Jersey Evolution
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