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San Diego Chargers Team History

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San Diego Chargers




  • 1961
  • 1967
  • 1984
  • 2003
  • 2017
  • Chargers Defense 1961

    Move to San Diego

    The Chargers spent only one season in L.A. before moving to San Diego in 1961. Hilton moved the team 75 miles south to San Diego. From 1961 to 1966 their home field in San Diego was Balboa Stadium in Balboa Park.
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  • Murphy Stadium

    New Stadium “The Murpy”

    In the early 1960s, local sportswriter Jack Murphy, the brother of New York Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy, began to build up support for a multi-purpose stadium for San Diego. In November 1965, a $27 million bond was passed allowing construction to begin on a stadium, which was designed in the Brutalist style. Construction on the stadium began one month later. ...
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  • Dean Spanos_new owner

    Alex Spanos New Owner

    In 1984, Spanos bought 60% of the San Diego Chargers from majority owner Eugene Klein for $48.3 million. Over the next 10 years, he bought out the shares of several small co-owners, bringing his control of the team to 97%. He remains partnered with retired San Diego restaurateur George Pernicano, an investor in the team since a few years after ...
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  • Eli Manning - San Diego Charger 2003

    Drafting Eli Manning

    Although the Chargers were tied with three other teams for the worst record of the 2003 NFL season, the league’s tie-breaking system gave San Diego the number one pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. With this pick, the Chargers selected quarterback Eli Manning from the University of Mississippi despite Manning’s stated desire to play elsewhere. New York Giants general manager ...
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  • Chargers Leave for LA

    Chargers Heading Back to LA

    On January 12, 2017, ESPN reported that the Chargers were going to announce a move back to Los Angeles for the 2017 season. Chargers owner Dean Spanos officially announced a return to Los Angeles on January 12, 2017.
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History of the Chargers

For more than five decades, the San Diego Chargers have been one of the most successful and beloved teams in professional football. 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 have won two AFL championships (1963 & 1965) and made 15 playoff appearances, including four trips to Super Bowls XXIX through XXXII.

The early years were marked by success on both sides of the ball for San Diego; 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 time 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 high powered passing offense that set records across league; however after his departure things started go downhill quickly following numerous losing seasons leading into 1990's where new ownership brought hope back but it never fully materialized due mainly poor personnel decisions nd coaching hires coupled with lack stability within organization itself which resulted them missing playoffs 11 consecutive times between 2000–2010 before finally making return 2011 only last one year before another streak began without any postseason berths till 2018 season when they managed make wild card round game against Baltimore Ravens ending long drought but ultimately falling short victory there too thus ending yet another disappointing campaign overall despite having solid core talent place like quarterback Philip Rivers who had been mainstay entire decade-plus running back Melvin Gordon III who emerged star over course few years giving fans something cheer about even if results weren't always what wanted out them each Sunday afternoon/evening.

Despite all ups and downs along the way spanning nearly six decades now, San Diego Chargers remain a beloved institution in many cities around the country thanks 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 lies ahead not just for the city itself but.





Established
1960

City
Los Angeles - San Diego - Los Angeles

League History
1970 - Present / National Football League
1960 - 1970 / American Football League

Team History
2017 - Present / Los Angeles Chargers
1961 - 2016 / San Diego Chargers
1960 / Los Angeles Chargers

Nickname
Chargers - The Chargers nickname is a carry over from the Los Angels Chargers, an original AFL team. Barron Hilton agreed after his general manager, Frank Ready picked the Chargers name when he purchased an AFL franchise for Los Angeles. “I liked it because they were yelling "charge" and sounding the bugle at Dodgers Stadium and at USC games.”

Championship
Super Bowl 0
AFL Championships 1
1963

Stadium
2020 – Present / SoFi Stadium
2018 – 2019 / Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park (during construction)
2019 / Dignity Health Sports Park
2017 – 2018 / StubHub Center

*San Diego*
1998 - 2016 / Qualcomm Stadium
1981 - 1997 / Jack Murphy Stadium
1967 - 1980 / San Diego Stadium
1961 - 1966 / Balboa Stadium

*Los Angeles*
1960 / Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Owner
1994 - Present / Dean Spanos
1984 - 1993 / Alex Spanos
1966 - 1984 / Gene Klein and Sam Schulman
1960 - 1966 / Barron Hilton

Who is the greatest San Diego Chargers?
  • Add your greatest player

To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.

Retired Number
14 / Dan Fouts
19 / Lance Alworth
21 / LaDainian Tomlinson
55 / Junior Seau

*Blue is this team’s history

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