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 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. In the 34 years since then, the Chargers have made seven trips to the playoffs and three appearances in the AFC Championship game. At the end of the 1994 season, the Chargers faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX and fell 49-26. The team’s overall record is 314-347-11 (.467). 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 (1960-69, 1971), wide receiver Charlie Joiner (1976-1986), offensive lineman Ron Mix (1960-69) and tight end Kellen Winslow (1979-1987).
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 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.
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[citation needed].
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 1960s 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.
1978 was marked by the "Holy Roller" game also known as the "Immaculate Deception". It was an infamous, controversial game-winning play executed by the Oakland Raiders against the Chargers on September 10, in San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium). What many Charger fan's 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. The officials did not think the illegal actions were obvious enough to call a penalty so the play ended in a touchdown. 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.
During the play, the game officials ruled that Banaszak and Casper's actions were legal because it was impossible to determine if they intentionally batted the ball forward, which would have been ruled a penalty. The National Football League (NFL) also backed up referee Jerry Markbreit's call that Stabler fumbled the ball instead of throwing a forward pass. Stabler, when asked after the game by radio announcer Bill King if he intentionally fumbled, said, "You bet your ass I did."[2] Banaszak and Casper also admitted that they deliberately batted the ball towards the end zone. This play would fuel the bitter rivalry to new heights. Before the 1979 season, the NFL passed new rules restricting fumble recoveries by the offense. A fumble in the final two minutes of a game, or on fourth down at any time in the game, now may not be advanced by the offense beyond the spot of the fumble unless the player who fumbled recovers the ball.
1979 marked a positive turning point for the Chargers franchise as team GM John Sanders is named NFL executive of the year after balloting of other NFL executives by The Sporting News ,link title Ron Mix becomes 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.The Chargers trade their 20th and 47th picks in the NFL draft for Cleveland's 13th choice, with which San Diego chooses tight end Kellen Winslow, University of Missouri. Running back Paul Lowe is inducted into the Chargers' Hall of Fame during halftime ceremonies of the Pittsburgh game. 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 Raiderslink title. The team coached by Don Coryell and featuring running back Chuck Muncie and tight end Kellen Winslow clinches their first playoff berth in 14 years with a 35-0 victory against the New Orleans Saints. On December 17, 1979, the Chargers defeated 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 saw Dan Fouts set a club record with 444 yards passing in the Chargers 44-7 victory over the N.Y. Giants. Running back Keith Lincoln and Barron Hilton are inducted into the Chargers' Hall of Fame at halftime of the Philadelphia game. Kellen Winslow catches 10 passes for 171 yards and Chargers clinch second straight AFC West title by defeating Pittsburgh 26-17 and finish the regular season 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 playing in their first AFC Championship Game, shredded the 27th-ranked Charger defense, while containing the Charger's league-leading offense, final score 27-7. The temperature of nine degrees below zero with a wind-chill factor of minus 59 makes this perhaps the coldest weather conditions for a title game in the history of pro football.link title 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 vs the "Air Coryell" Charger team.[1] QB Dan Fouts who in subsequent interviews stated that the Bengal management opened exit doors allowing gust of frigid wind to blow into the stadium when the Charger were on offense and subsequently shut them when the Bengals had the ball during the 1st half of the contest , he also stated that the practice stopped after intervention from N.F.L. officials after Charger management complained .The open door policy irked San Diego Coach Don Coryell I'd rather not get into any discussion about it, Coryell said, referring to the fact one of the huge sliding doors at each end of the stadium was raised during the first period, while the Chargers were heading that direction.Coryell said the open door added to the difficulty passing because it created more wind on the field. The Charger coach noted the door was closed in the second quarter when the Bengals were going in that direction and was reopened before the third period began.We had to request that it be closed at the start of the third quarter and the officials stopped the game to close it, Coryell said. I guess it was opened for the band.There was, however, no band show.The door is no excuse, though, he said. We were beaten by a good team. The game will always be remembered as the "Freezer Bowl". Fouts was elected to the pro football hall of fame in 1993.( see notes)
1/2/1982: The Epic In Miami
San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins, AFC Divisional Playoff Game) The temperature was 85°F (29.4°C) at the Miami Orange Bowl, but it did not stop either team's offense. Miami’s offensive line was anchored by pro bowl guard Ed Newman and center Dwight Stephenson,receivers Jimmy Cefalo (29 receptions, 631 yards, three touchdowns) and Duriel Harris (53 receptions, 911 yards, two touchdowns) provided the main deep threat on the team. Halfback Tony Nathan was the top rusher on the Dolphins with 782 yards on 147 carries, while also catching 50 passes for 432 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.Miami’s defense ranked fifth in the NFL in fewest points allowed (275) featured Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Baumhower ,linebackers A. J. Duhe and the brothers Lyle and Glenn Blackwood. The Chargers were lead by Quarterback Dan Fouts who made the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row, completing 360 of 609 passes for an NFL record 4,802 yards and 33 touchdowns, with only 17 interceptions. His targets were receivers Charlie Joiner (70 receptions, 1,188 yards, seven touchdowns) and Wes Chandler (69 receptions, 1,142 yards, six touchdowns), along with Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow (88 receptions, 1,070 yards, 10 touchdowns). San Diego also had an outstanding rushing attack, led by Pro Bowl running back Chuck Muncie, who rushed for 1,144 yards and a league-leading 19 touchdowns, while also catching 46 passes for 362 yards. Rookie running back James Brooks was also a major contributor, rushing for 525 yards, catching 46 passes for 329 yards, and adding another 1,239 yards returning punts and kickoffs. Up front, their line was anchored by Pro Bowl guard Doug Wilkerson.
This game set playoff records for the most points scored in a playoff game (79), the most total yards by both teams (1,036), and most passing yards by both teams (809). Miami's Don Strock turned in the best game of his life, completing 29 of 43 passes for 403 yards and 4 touchdowns, while San Diego's Dan Fouts put on one of the best performances of his hall of fame career, completing 33 of 53 passes for 433 yards and 3 touchdowns. This game looked like it might be over by the end of the first quarter the Chargers stormed to a 24-0 lead, but the Dolphins cut their deficit to 24-17 by halftime, with the fabled "hook and ladder" with the final play of the half, and swaggered into the second half, taking a 38-31 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. With the exhausted Dolphins just trying to run out the clock, the Chargers recovered a fumble on their own 18. Dan Fouts blind 8-yard touchdown pass to James Brooks then tied the game. Fouts' pass was actually intended for tight end Kellen Winslow, but the ball sailed over his head. Miami responded by driving into scoring range, where kicker Uwe von Schamann attempted a game winning field goal, but Winslow broke through the line and blocked the kick as time expired in the final period. 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 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 ever since.Winslow went on the be voted to the pro football hall of fame in 1995.
1983-1993 Ortmayer - Beathard
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. In 1983 San Diego used three number one draft choices to select Billy Ray Smith, Gary Anderson, and Gill Byrd in the first round of the N.F.L. draft. Dan Fouts injured his throwing shoulder in the Chargers' 41-34 victory at New York Giants. The Chargers improved their record to 2-3 after their worst start since 1978, and Fouts played the next two weeks before missing six games due to injury. Quarterback John Hadl was inducted into Chargers' Hall of Fame at halftime of the Denver game. In 1984 Alex Spanos purchased a majority interest in Chargers from Eugene V. Klein on August 1. Spanos, of Stockton, California, is one of America's leading apartment complex builders. Placekicker Rolf Benirschke was named NFL/Miller Man of the Year, wide receiver Charlie Joiner set an NFL record with his 650th pass reception in the fourth quarter of the game at Pittsburgh. Lee Williams, a DE from Bethune-Cookman, was selected by the team in a special supplemental draft of world football league players. Mossy Cade, a DB from Texas, was the Chargers' first round selection (#6) in the regular draft. Northwestern LB Mike Guendling was selected in the second round at #33, and Auburn RB Lionel James in the third round at #118. Williams, the former Los Angeles Express DE, went on to have a great career with the Chargers from 1984 to 1990, along with James (1984-1988). Cade and Guendling failed to impress, beginning some lean Charger drafts.
Guard Ed White set an NFL record by playing in 241 NFL games, most all-time among offensive linemen in 1985. Al Saunders was named the seventh head coach in Chargers history 1986 following the resignation of Don Coryell. At age 39, Saunders was the youngest head coach in the NFL. In 1987 wide receiver Charlie Joiner retired with 750 receptions, most in NFL history, to become receivers coach of the Chargers, and Steve Ortmayer was named Director of Football Operations. The Chargers finished with an 8-7 record, their first winning record since 1982, despite winding up with six straight losses and 24-0 loss in Denver blizzard.
In 1988 Quarterback Dan Fouts retired after 15-year career in which he set seven NFL recordsand 42 club records, and became the NFL's second most prolific passer of all time with 43,040 yards. The Chargers' first round selection was Anthony Miller a WR from Tennessee, followed in the second round by Iowa WR Quinn Early. Dan Fouts's jersey (number 14) was retired at halftime of "Dan Fouts Day" game in San Diego; Chargers lost to 49ers, 48-10. Head coach Al Saunders is released.
In 1989 forty-six-year-old Dan Henning, the former Chargers quarterback, Redskins assistant, and Falcons head coach, was named the eighth head coach in Chargers history. 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. Director of Football Operations Steve Ortmayer was released. Bobby Beathard became the Chargers' new GM on January 3, 1990.
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 their first six regular season games the only N.F.L. team to do so in 1994 and finsihed the season 11-6.Stan Humphries and Tony Martin combined on a 99-yard touchdown completion to tie an NFL record and help defeat the Seahawks in Husky Stadium, 27-10 September 18th. The AFC West Division champions behind a strong defense led by linebacker Junior Seau, DT Ruben Davis, DT Shawn Lee , DE Leslie O'neal and an offense keyed by running back Natrone Means, QB Stan Humphries , WR Tony Martin. The Charger gained 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 Championship) 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. Despite the lopsided loss in the Super Bowl, GM Bobby Beathard, who traded for or drafted the bulk of the Charger roster and who hired coach Ross is named NFL smartest man by Sports Illustrated[citation needed] and became the only General Manager to lead three different teams to the Super Bowl (Chargers, Dolphins, Redskins) . Indeed the future did look bright for pro footballs youngest team.
Beathard built the Chargers roster with key draft selections including: Junior Seau LB USC 1990 , Eric Moten G/OT Michigan State 1991 , Stanley Richard DB Texas 1991, Eric Bieniemy RB Colorado 1991 , Lewis Bush LB Washington State 1993 , Ray Lee Johnson DE Arkansas 1993 , Joe Cocozzo G Michigan 1993 , Natrone Means RB North Carolina 1993 , Darrien Gordon DB Stanford 1993 , Isaac Davis G Arkansas 1994 , Vaughn Parker G UCLA 1994 , Rodney Harrison DB Western Illinois 1994 .
Charger key trades: 1990:Choice (33) to Chicago for QB Jim McMahon 1992: Stan Humphries QB from Washington Redskins for a third-round draft pick. 1994: Tony Martin WR to Arizona through Miami for selection 107. 1994: Choice (15) to Los Angeles Rams through San Francisco for 49ers' 1993 second-round (41 used to select RB Natrone Means North Carolina) third-round (82) fourth-round (110) and fifth-round (138) choices for San Diego 1994: Choice (78) and RB Marion Butts to New England for Patriots' 1994 third-round (70) and fifth-round (137) choices April 25 1994
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. High lites include :The Chargers become the first team to play a regular-season game versus the Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum since 1981.Dwayne Harper ties a team record with three interceptions in a 12-6 win over the Raiders.John Carney becomes the team's all-time field goal leader when he kicks his 147th and 148th career field goals with the Chargers in a 27-24 win at Indianapolis. Carney surpassed Rolf Benirschke record of 146.Shaun Gayle returns an interception 99 yards through a barrage of snowballs thrown by fans as the Chargers seal a 27-17 win over the Giants at the New Jersey Meadowlands. It marks the Chargers fifth-consecutive win and gives San Diego its third playoff berth in the past four seasons.
Charger off season moves: 1995:Choice (29) to Carolina for Panthers' 1995 second-round (34 used to select Terrance Shaw CB Stephen F. Austin) third round (98 used to select Preston Harrison LB Ohio State) and fourth-round (100 used to select Chris Cowart LB Florida State
1995 DRAFT 2 Shaw ,Terrance CB Stephen F. Austin (34) 2 Fletcher ,Terrell RB Wisconsin (51) 2 Oliver ,Jimmy WR Texas Christian (61) 3 Sasa ,Don DT Washington State (93) 3 Harrison ,Preston LB Ohio State (98) 4 Cowart ,Chris LB Florida State (100) 4 Hayden ,Aaron RB Tennessee (104) Choice (126) to Seattle for San Diego 5 Ellison , WR Florida State (162) 6 Sienkiewicz ,Troy G New Mexico State (177) 6 Harrison ,Brandon WR Howard Payne (183) 6 Whelihan ,Craig QB Pacific (197) 6 Berti ,Tony T Colorado (200) 7 Montreuil ,Mark CB Concordia Quebec (237)
Defensive Coordinator Bill Arnsparger retired. Arnsparger was instrumental in the defense scheme that lead the Chargers to the Super Bowl in 1994. Chargers President/Vice Chairman Dean Spanos announces that the team has come to an agreement with the City of San Diego to extend its lease and call San Diego home through the year 2020. As part of the agreement, plans were outlined to permanently expand the seating capacity of San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium to accommodate more than 70,000 fans. Linebacker David Griggs was killed in a one-car accident in Davie, Florida. Former Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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