San Diego Chargers Team History

History of the Chargers

The San Diego Chargers, now known as the Los Angeles Chargers, have been one of the most successful and beloved teams in professional football for more than five decades. The team was founded in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) and has since become an integral part of NFL history. Throughout its storied past, the Chargers, previously known as the San Diego Chargers, have won two AFL championships (1963 & 1965) and made 15 playoff appearances, including four Super Bowl trips from XXIX to XXXII.

The early years were marked by success on both sides of the ball for the San Diego Chargers, previously known as the Los Angeles Chargers. They had strong rushing attacks led by Hall-of-Famers Lance Alworth, Keith Lincoln, and Paul Lowe, while also boasting a formidable defense anchored by Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison, and Ron Mix—all three members are enshrined at Canton’s Pro Football Hall Of Fame. In addition to their championship runs during this period, several players from these teams went on to be named All-Pros or Pro Bowl selections: Charlie Joiner (wide receiver), Dan Fouts (quarterback), Kellen Winslow Sr. (tight end), all achieved individual accolades throughout their careers with SDCCU Stadium serving as a home field until 2003 when Qualcomm Stadium opened up for business.

During this era under head coach Don Coryell, the franchise enjoyed some memorable moments such as “Air Coryell,” which featured a high-powered passing offense that set records across the league. However, after his departure, things started to go downhill quickly, with numerous losing seasons leading into the 1990s. New ownership brought hope back to the San Diego Chargers, previously known as the Los Angeles Chargers, but it never fully materialized due mainly to poor personnel decisions and coaching hires, coupled with a lack of stability within the organization itself. This resulted in them missing the playoffs 11 consecutive times between 2000 and 2010 before finally making a return in 2011. The return was short-lived, as they only lasted one year before another streak began without any postseason berths until the 2018 season when they managed to make the wild card round game against the Baltimore Ravens, ending a long drought but ultimately falling short of victory there too. Thus, another disappointing campaign overall, despite having a solid core of talent in place, like quarterback Philip Rivers, who had been a mainstay for the entire decade-plus, and running back Melvin Gordon III, who emerged as a star over the course of a few years, giving fans something to cheer about even if the results weren't always what they wanted from them each Sunday afternoon/evening.
Despite all the ups and downs along the way spanning nearly six decades now, the San Diego Chargers, now known as the Los Angeles Chargers, remain a beloved institution in many cities around the country, thanks to a loyal fan base that continues to show support regardless of how the team performs on any given year. So here's hoping for a brighter future that lies ahead not just for the city itself but also for the Los Angeles Chargers and their fans.