The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franchise played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now known as the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers' first home game in San Diego was at Balboa Stadium against the Oakland Raiders on September 17, 1961. The team played a majority of their time in San Diego at San Diego Stadium, from 1967 until 2017. Their final game as a San Diego–based team was played at the end of the 2016 season on January 1, 2017, against the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated them 37–27.
Los Angeles (1960)
In 1959, the team began as the "Los Angeles Chargers" when they entered the American Football League (AFL), joining seven other teams: the Denver Broncos, Dallas Texans, Oakland Raiders, New York Titans, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, and Boston Patriots. The Chargers' first owner was Barron Hilton, the son of Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotels corporation. Lamar Hunt, who was instrumental in organizing the AFL, said that he had asked Gene Mako for a suggestion for somebody to start a team in Los Angeles and he recommended Hilton. Hunt said that he visited Hilton for less than an hour and Hilton immediately agreed to start a team.
Barron Hilton held a contest to find a name for his team. The prize was a trip to Mexico. A man from Hollywood named Gerald Courtney submitted the name "Chargers" and won.The American Football League McFarland 1997 Conrad Hilton said, "I liked [the name] because they were yelling 'charge' and sounding the bugle at Dodger Stadium and at USC games". Hunt said he thought Hilton picked the team name from the first batch of letters as publicity for his new charge account business Carte Blanche.
The team's first general manager was Frank Leahy, a former University of Notre Dame football coach. The team's first head coach was Sid Gillman from the Los Angeles Rams. His strength lay in offense innovation and he was later honored in the Hall of Fame. Gillman (87–57–6) signed a contract with the team for three years. When Frank Leahy resigned due to poor health, Gillman became the general manager in addition to his coaching role.
The Chargers originally planned to play at the Rose Bowl, but instead signed a lease to play at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
The Chargers were to host the first ever AFL national championship game at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1961 (for the 1960 season). However, as attendances for home games were falling below 10,000, league and ABC television officials, fearing that showing empty seats in the 100,000+ seat Coliseum might jeopardize the entire league, persuaded the Chargers to give up the advantage and move the game to Houston (where they lost).
Move to San Diego In December 1960, reports surfaced that the Chargers were considering relocation offers from San Diego, Atlanta, and Seattle. Greg Gregston of the San Diego Union reported that the Chargers "have learned in one season that Los Angeles has been saturated beyond sensible proportions with sports." In January 1961, the team announced the move to Balboa Stadium in San Diego's Balboa Park. Hilton was reported to have lost $900,000 in the first season. San Diego would spend $250,000 to increase stadium seating from 22,000 to 30,000; adding back rests for reserved seats; raising the scoreboard; upgrading the locker rooms; moving the football field closer to the stands and reseeding it; and improving security measures. The Junior Chamber Commerce reported that there were 10,000 firm commitments for season tickets. Seating was increased even more in May 1961 with upper deck bring the total capacity to 34,000; both Atlanta and Seattle would later get NFL teams of their own, when the Falcons were enfranchised in 1966, and when the Seahawks began play in 1976, respectively.
Early history (1961–1977)
1961–1966
In the 1960s, the Chargers featured future Hall of Famers Lance Alworth at wide receiver and Ron Mix at offensive tackle, along with quarterback John Hadl and running back Paul Lowe. 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.LANCE ALWORTH Pro Football Hall of Fame. Accessed July 29, 2007. San Diego participated in four of the first five AFL Championship Games following their move: 1961, 1963, 1964, and 1965; winning only in 1963.
In the 1961 season, their first in San Diego, the team's defense made forty-nine pass interceptions.Football players are better than ever, right? Professional Football Researchers' Association. Accessed July 29, 2007. The term "Fearsome Foursome" described the 1961 Chargers' defensive players' lineup. The anchoring players were Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd.Big Cat Ernie Ladd World Wrestling Entertainment. Accessed July 29, 2007. The "Fearsome Foursome" phrase was later used by other NFL teams."Fearsome Foursome" The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Accessed July 29, 2007. In 1961, the Chargers lost the championship to Houston 10–3, with 29,556 patrons attending the game at Balboa Stadium.
In 1962, the team went 4–10, losing eight of the final nine games of the season, mostly due to injuries.
In the 1963 season, eight Charger players scored in the final week. Paul Lowe rushed over 183 yards, scoring 2 touchdowns on 17 carries. In the final regular season game, the Chargers beat Denver 58–20 and became the AFL West champions. The season ended a week late due to a postponement of games after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The Chargers won the 1963 AFL Championship when they defeated the Boston Patriots 51–10. Spectators numbering 30,127 attended the game at Balboa Stadium. Running back Keith Lincoln's effort made up 349 yards of the total offense.
In 1964, the Chargers played the New York Jets resulting in a 17–17 tie. A reported attendance of 50,222 attended the game at Shea Stadium, New York. The game earned $46,828 in entrance fees. On Thanksgiving Day, Buffalo defeated the Chargers 27–24 at Balboa Stadium. The attendance was 34,865 spectators. The Chargers won their fourth AFL West title by defeating the Jets 38–3 before 25,753 spectators at Balboa Stadium. Lance Alworth left the game with a knee injury, and the fullback, Keith Lincoln was sidelined in the first quarter with a fractured rib. At the 1964 AFL Championship Game in Buffalo, the Chargers were defeated 20–7. The AFL teams signed a five-year television contract with the National Broadcasting Company for $36 million to commence in 1965.
On December 12, 1965, San Diego (9–2–3) won their fifth AFL West title by defeating Houston 37–26. Lowe finished first and Alworth second in the AFL Player of the Year honors. However, Buffalo would shutout the Chargers 23–0 in front of 30,361 spectators at Balboa Stadium for the 1965 AFL Championship. At half time, a new automobile, the "Charger," was introduced by Chrysler officials. It would enter production branded as a Dodge the following year.
In 1966, Hilton sold the Chargers to a 21-member group of business executives for $10 million. The leading investors were Eugene V. Klein and Sam Schulman. The Chargers finished third in the AFL West that season, 7–6–1.NFL History: 1961–1970 NFL.com. Accessed July 29, 2007. During the sale process, a then-23 year old Jerry Jones (who would go on to become the owner of the Dallas Cowboys) offered $5.8 million for the team, but backed off after his father disapproved of his plans.
1967–1970 In August 1967, the Chargers moved to newly completed San Diego Stadium, and played the NFL's Detroit Lions in a pre-season game with 45,988 spectators in attendance. Detroit defeated the Chargers 38–17. In the fifth week of the season, Leslie "Speedy" Duncan had 203 yards in returns, 35 yards on a fumble recovery for a touchdown, 68 yards on four kickoff returns, and 100 yards for a touchdown. In the Chargers' game against Kansas City, the team won 45–31 with a combined effort was 897 yards offense and 622 yards in returns. In the 11th week, the Chargers were defeated by Oakland 41–21 with 52,661 spectators at the game, alongside 2,018 closed-circuit television viewers in the San Diego Sports Arena.
In 1968, the Chargers played a first pre-season game at San Diego Stadium against the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. The Chargers won 30–18, before 39,553 spectators. "Speedy" Duncan set an AFL record with a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown in a game where the Chargers were defeated by the New York Jets 37–15. The Chargers came third in the West Division, with a 9–5 record. Quarterback John Hadl led the AFL that year with 440 pass attempts, 208 completions, 3,473 yards taken and 27 touchdown passes. He also led in passes intercepted, with 32.Players Pro football website.
In the 1969 season, the Chargers lost their first two games. They then defeated the Jets at home in front of 54,042 spectators. Joe Namath played for the Jets. Hadl and Alworth played for the Chargers. Alworth set a professional record with a pass reception in his 96th consecutive game. The Chargers won the next three games and then lost four. Their last game was against Buffalo where they won 45–6. The team finished with an 8–6 record and out of the playoffs. Charlie Waller, the offensive backfield coach was named head coach. Gillman had resigned after the season's ninth game due to illness but continued as the team's general manager.
1970–1977: joining the NFL In 1970, the San Diego Chargers settled into the AFC West division following the NFL merger with the AFL. The years after the merger were difficult for the Chargers. Charlie Waller took over as the head coach, but after finishing 5–6–3, he stepped down, and Gillman returned to the job. Gillman resigned midway through the 1971 season, which finished with six wins and eight losses.
On May 19, 1971, Ron East was sent to the San Diego Chargers as part of the "Bambi trade" that also involved Pettis Norman and Tony Liscio. In 1972, Duane Thomas and Deacon Jones joined the team, which finished with a 4–9–1 record. In 1973, veteran quarterback Johnny Unitas, formerly from the Baltimore Colts joined the Chargers. Unitas was almost 40 and had chronic injuries. He played three games and then was replaced by the rookie Dan Fouts. The Chargers finished with a 2–11–1 record.
In the 1974 season, Fouts was named the new the starting quarterback. Don Woods also joined the team. Woods ran for over 1,000 yards but the team had a 5–9 record. However, in 1975, Woods and Fouts underperformed and the team finished 2–12 after facing the possibility of the first-ever 0–14 season until beating the Kansas City Chiefs in their twelfth game.Anderson, Dave; ‘The Chargers Are 0–11, Going on 0–14’; The New York Times, December 2, 1975, p. 51
In 1976, the Chargers began with a three-game win streak but finished with a 6–8 record. In 1977, the Chargers again began strongly. However, the team lost four out of five games. Fouts in a contract dispute did not report to training camp; and held out until it was resolved when he rejoined his team for the eleventh game. They went 2–2, losing to the powerhouse Steelers and Broncos by a combined total of nine points. The team finished 7–7.
Air Coryell era (1978–1986)