San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating back to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now known as the Los Angeles Chargers.
This article is about the team. For the song "San Diego Chargers", see All U Need Is Mosh.San Diego Chargers
Navy blue, powder blue, gold, white
Barron Hilton (1961–1966)
Eugene Klein and Sam Schulman (1966–1984)
Alex Spanos (1984–2017)
Sid Gillman (1961–1970)
Harland Svare (1971–1975)
Johnny Sanders (1976–1986)
Steve Ortmayer (1987–1989)
Bobby Beathard (1990–2000)
John Butler (2001–2003)
A. J. Smith (2003–2013)
Tom Telesco (2013–2017)
Sid Gillman (1961–1969, 1971)
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 (1998)
Mike Riley (1999–2001)
Marty Schottenheimer (2002–2006)
Norv Turner (2007–2012)
Mike McCoy (2013–2017)
The Chargers' first home game in San Diego was at Balboa Stadium against the Oakland Raiders on September 17, 1961. Their final game as a San Diego-based club was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego at the end of the 2016 season on January 1, 2017, against the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated them 37–27.[1]
Early history (1961–1977)[edit]
1961–1966[edit]
The Chargers played in four of the first five AFL national championship games after their move (1961, 1963, 1964, 1965), although they won only in 1963.
In the early years wide receiver Lance Alworth made 543 receptions for 10,266 yards in a career of eleven AFL and NFL seasons. He set a record of 96 consecutive games with a reception.[12] With players such as Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln and John Hadl, the Chargers reached the AFL championship game four times and won it once.[13]