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. The club spent its first season in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego.
The Chargers won one AFL title in 1963 before joining the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger.
Franchise history
1959-1969: The Lance Alworth Era
Established with seven other American Football League teams in 1959, in 1960, the Chargers began AFL play in Los Angeles. The Chargers' original owner was hotel heir Barron Hilton, son of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton. 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.
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 latter also dabbled in professional wrestling). 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.
1970-1981: The Dan Fouts Era
In 1970, the San Diego Chargers settled into the AFC West division after the NFL merger with the AFL. But by then, the Chargers fell on hard times, Sid Gillman stepped down in 1971, and many of the Charger greats from the 1960's had already either retired or traded. In the early 1970s, the Chargers acquired veteran players like Duane Thomas, Deacon Jones, Johnny Unitas, and Don Woods, but they were unable to help the team as it struggled.
1979 marked a positive turning point for the Chargers franchise as quarterback Dan 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 Oakland Raiders. Coached by Don Coryell and also featuring running back Chuck Muncie and tight end Kellen Winslow, 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. Unfortunately, their playoff time was short as the Houston Oilers sent the Chargers packing with a 17-14 loss in the Divisional Round. The 1980 Chargers managed to carry last year's success with an 11-5 record (tops in the AFC West). 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 Oakland Raiders. The 1981 Chargers managed to beat the Broncos for the AFC West title with their 10-6 season. In the Divisional Round, they managed to outlast the Miami Dolphins 41-38. Unfortunately, the eventual-AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals shredded the 27th-ranked defense, while containing the Chargers' league-leading offense, in a 27-7 loss in the AFC Championship Game.
1982: The Kellen Winslow Era
On January 2, 1982 the Chargers were involved in a memorable overtime playoff game against the Miami Dolphins that became known as The Epic In Miami, ultimately winning 41-38. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and Dolphins quarterback Don Strock both threw for more than 400 yards, and Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes for 166 yards and blocked a crucial field goal 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. The Chargers then went from the heat of Miami to the bitter cold of Cincinnati, losing the AFC Championship Game to the Bengals in the Freezer Bowl on January 10, by a score of 27-7. It is considered the coldest game ever played in NFL history.
1983-1993
The Chargers made it back to the playoffs during the strike shortened 1982 season, but after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, they lost to the Miami Dolphins in a rematch from their epic game. That loss began a slide for the Chargers, who from 1983 to 1991 failed to make the playoffs despite great individual performances by Lionel James and Billy Ray Smith.
Bobby Ross was then hired as head coach in 1992, but San Diego lost its first four games during the season and many thought the Chargers would miss the playoffs again. However, the Chargers came roaring back and 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 AFC Coach Of The Year for the Chargers' dramatic turnaround. In the Wild Card Round, they managed to shut out the Kansas City Chiefs 17-0, but they got shut out in the Divisional Round to the Miami Dolphins 31-0. In 1993, the Chargers ended up 8-8 (fourth in their division) and ending an average year on the outside looking in.
1994-2003: The Junior Seau Era
In the 1994-95 season, the Chargers made their first and, so far, only Super Bowl appearance against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami Gardens. They got to the Super Bowl by winning the AFC West Division championship behind a strong defense led by linebacker Junior Seau and an offense keyed by running back Natrone Means, and then gaining upset victories over the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC playoffs. Despite two close victories (22-21 against the Dolphins in the Divisional Round and 17-13 against the Steelers in the AFC Championhip) in the playoffs, the underdog Chargers lost to the 49ers, led by quarterback Steve Young (the game's MVP) and wide receiver Jerry Rice, 49-26.
The Chargers follow-up year in 1995 wasn't as good as the previous year, but they still managed to get into the playoffs with a five-game winning streak to end the season at 9-7. Unfortunately, they experienced an early exit, courtesy of the Indianapolis Colts 35-20 in the AFC Wild Card. Then, from 1996 to 2003, the Chargers would go on to have eight-straight seasons where they were .500 or worse.
2004-present: The LaDainian Tomlinson Era
The team finally earned a trip back to the post-season in 2004 by capturing the AFC West Division Title, finishing 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.
Despite an abrupt ending to their turnaround season, Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer was named NFL Coach Of The Year for the 2004-2005 season, and quarterback Drew Brees was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
During the 2005 NFL Draft, the Chargers tried to get some key rookies that would help carry the momentum from their mostly successful 2004-05 run. They used their first pick on LB Shawne "Lights Out" Merriman from the University of Maryland. Then, they used their next pick on DT Luis Castillo from Northwestern University. Their other choices were WR Vincent Jackson from Northern Colorado, RB Darren Sproles from Kansas State, OT Wesley Britt from Alabama University, OT Wes Sims from Oklahoma University, and Center Scott Mruczkowski from Bowling Green State. However, they finished with a record of 9-7.
Logo and uniforms
Chargers' AFL logo 1966-1969
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.
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 vs. 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 1960's 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.
Logo Gallery
The original Powder Blue logo. | The Chargers wore this decal in 1963 as San Diego was honored as an All America City. | The recolored Navy Blue logo. | The lightning bolt logo from 1988-2006. |
| Another variation of the original logo. | Chargers helmet (1988-2006) | Chargers helmet (2007-present) |
Virtual World, Real Profit! 
| ; "San Diego Chargers")
button beside categories below to add/edit content
+2
