The San Diego Chargers are a National Football League team based in San Diego, California.
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Founded: 1959 (charter American Football League member)
- Formerly known as: Los Angeles Chargers (1960)
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Home field: Qualcomm Stadium (formerly Jack Murphy Stadium)
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Previous home field: Balboa Stadium (1961-1966)
- Uniform colors: Navy blue, gold, and white
Note: The original colors of the Charger franchise was Electric blue (sky blue), gold, and white. The Chargers now annually wear throwback uniforms from the 1960's that are sentimental favorites
- Helmet design: A yellow and white lightning bolt on a blue helmet.
Note: The throwback jersey helmets are white with a yellow lightning bolt and the player number in black.
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League championships won: AFL 1963
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AFC Championship: 1994
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Super Bowl Appearances: 1994 Season
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Nickname: Bolts, Super Chargers
- Owner: Alex Spanos
Franchise history
Established with seven other
American Football League teams in 1959, in
1960, the Chargers began AFL play in
Los Angeles. The Chargers only spent one season in L.A. before moving to
San Diego in
1961. The early AFL years of the San Diego Chargers were highlighted by the outstanding play of
wide receiver Lance Alworth. In his day, he set the pro football record of consecutive games with a reception. The Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers were one of the elements that made the
American Football League the genesis of modern professional football.
Their only coach for the ten year life of the AFL was Sid Gillman, a Hall of Famer who forced his competition to try to field as professional a product as the Chargers. With stars such as Lance Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln and John Hadl, the Chargers' offense struck fear into the hearts of AFL defenders. They also played defense, as indicated by their professional football record 49 pass interceptions in 1961. The Chargers were the originators of the term "Fearsome Foursome" to describe their all-star defensive line, anchored by Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd. The phrase was later appropriated by various NFL teams. The Chargers franchise appeared in the first two American Football League Championship games and five altogether, winning the AFL title in 1963 with a 51 - 10 thumping of the Boston Patriots. The Chargers of that era were widely acknowledged as having the most striking uniforms in the history of pro football.
In 1970, the San Diego Chargers settled into the AFC West division after the NFL merger with the AFL. 1979 marks a positive turning point for the Chargers franchise as quarterback Dan Fouts sets an NFL record with his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game, in a game in which he threw for 303 yards against the Oakland Raiders. San Diego also clinched their first playoff berth in 14 years with a 35-0 victory against the New Orleans Saints. On Dec. 17, 1979, the Chargers defeat the Denver Broncos 17-7 for their first AFC West division title since the merger before a national Monday Night Football television audience and their home crowd.
On January 2, 1982 the Chargers were involved in a memorable double-overtime playoff game against the Miami Dolphins, ultimately winning 41-38. Both quarterbacks threw for more than 400 yards, and tight end Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes and blocked a crucial field goal despite despite suffering from heat-induced fatigue and cramps. The game began with San Diego building a 24-0 lead and then losing all of it by early in the third quarter.
In 1995, the San Diego Chargers made their first and only Super Bowl appearance against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami. The underdog Chargers lost to the 49ers, 49-26.
They were the host team for Super Bowls XXII, XXXII, and XXXVII in San Diego, but failed to make the playoffs in any of these seasons. In fact, the Chargers had not made the post-season since 1995, the year after their Super Bowl XXIX appearance, until on December 19, 2004, a year removed from their disastrous 4-12 season of 2003, they finally earned a trip back to the post-season by capturing the AFC West Division Title, winning their eighth straight game while shutting out the Cleveland Browns 21-0. An estimated 1200+ fans waited as long as six hours to greet the team at Chargers Park, their year-round training facility starting in 2005. The Chargers went on to finish the regular season 12-4.
They entered the first round (the Wild Card portion) of the playoffs as a lower seed, but proceeded to be eliminated by opponent New York Jets, who won in overtime over the Chargers 20-17. Rookie placekicker 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.
Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer was named the Associated Press' NFL Coach Of The Year for the 2004-2005 season.
Players of note
Pro Football Hall of Famers:
Current stars:
Retired numbers:
Not to be forgotten:
To be forgotten:
See also
External links:
AFL Players, Coaches, and Contributors
