San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers are a National Football League team based in San Diego, California. The team was founded in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger.

Franchise history

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 and grandfather of socialite and television reality show star Paris 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.

Related Topics:
American Football League - 1960 - Los Angeles - Barron Hilton - Hilton Hotels - Conrad Hilton - Socialite - Television - Reality show - Paris Hilton - San Diego - 1961 - Wide receiver - Lance Alworth

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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.

Related Topics:
Sid Gillman - Lance Alworth - Paul Lowe - Keith Lincoln - John Hadl - Earl Faison - Ernie Ladd - Professional wrestling - Boston Patriots

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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. 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.

Related Topics:
1970 - AFC - NFL - 1979 - Quarterback - Dan Fouts - Oakland Raiders - Don Coryell - Running back - Chuck Muncie - Tight end - Kellen Winslow - New Orleans Saints - Denver Broncos - Monday Night Football - Television

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On January 2, 1982 the Chargers were involved in a memorable double-overtime playoff game against the Miami Dolphins, ultimately winning 41-38. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and Dolphins quarterback David Woodley both threw for more than 400 yards, and Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes 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.

Related Topics:
1982 - Miami Dolphins - Quarterback - Dan Fouts - David Woodley - Kellen Winslow - Field goal - Fatigue

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In 1995, the San Diego Chargers, coached by Bobby Ross, made their first and only Super Bowl appearance against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami. They got to the Super Bowl by winning the AFC West Division championship behind a strong defense led by linebacker Junior Seau and safety Rodney Harrison 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. The underdog Chargers lost to the 49ers, led by quarterback Steve Young and wide receiver Jerry Rice, 49-26.

Related Topics:
1995 - Bobby Ross - Super Bowl - San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XXIX - Miami - Linebacker - Junior Seau - Safety - Rodney Harrison - Running back - Natrone Means - Miami Dolphins - Pittsburgh Steelers - Quarterback - Steve Young - Wide receiver - Jerry Rice

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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.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl - XXII - XXXII - XXXVII - December 19 - Cleveland Browns

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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.

Related Topics:
New York Jets - Placekicker

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Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer was named the Associated Press' NFL Coach Of The Year for the 2004-2005 season.

Related Topics:
Marty Schottenheimer - Associated Press

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Season-by-season