The 1995 San Diego Chargers season was the team's 36th, its 26th in the National Football League (NFL), and its 35th in San Diego.
The season began with the team as reigning AFC champions and trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 1994. After starting 4–7, the Chargers won their final five games to get into the playoffs. It ended in the first round with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. That game would mark the last time the Chargers made the playoffs until the 2004 season, by when only long snapper David Binn remained from the 1995 roster.
While most of the offensive starters returned from the Super Bowl run were back, the Chargers slipped down the rankings for both passing and rushing. They were hampered by an injury to Natrone Means, who finished with 730 yards despite only having 5 carries in the second half of the season. Tony Martin established himself as the club's leading receiver, with 1,224 yards from 90 catches — this broke Kellen Winslow's club record for receptions in a season. The defense continued to be solid. Safeties Darren Carrington and Stanley Richard were both released after disappointing performances in the Super Bowl; Rodney Harrison began to see more action as a strong safety, and led the team with five interceptions. Leslie O'Neal, in his final year with the club, was once again the sack leader with 12.5; Junior Seau's 130 tackles were 45 more than the next best of his teammates. Andre Coleman continued to be dangerous, running one punt and two kickoffs back for touchdowns, though he also fumbled ten times. Former Australian rules full-forward Darren Bennett was voted to the Pro Bowl in his first season as a starting punter.
The Chargers suffered a tragedy during the offseason, when linebacker David Griggs was killed in a road accident.
After the season, Stan Brock, who had been with the San Diego Chargers since 1993, retired.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsS Shaun Gayle (Bears) RB Eric Bieniemy (Bengals) DT Les Miller (Saints)
1995 expansion draft
+ San Diego Chargers selected during the expansion draft Round Overall Name Position Expansion team714Curtis WhitleyCenterCarolina Panthers1427Darren CarringtonSafetyJacksonville Jaguars
NFL draft
Personnel Staff
Roster
Preseason
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance 1 August 7 Minnesota Vikings L 19–23 0–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 2 August 13 San Francisco 49ers L 6–17 0–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 3 August 19 vs. Houston Oilers Canceled Alamodome (San Antonio) 4 August 25 St. Louis Rams W 17–9 1–2 Jack Murphy Stadium
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 3 at Oakland Raiders L 7–17 0–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 50,323 2 September 10 Seattle Seahawks W 14–10 1–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 54,420 3 September 17 at Philadelphia Eagles W 27–21 2–1 Veterans Stadium 63,081 4 September 24 Denver Broncos W 17–6 3–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 58,987 5 October 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–31 3–2 Three Rivers Stadium 57,012 6 at Kansas City Chiefs L 23–29 (OT) 3–3 Arrowhead Stadium 79,288 7 October 15 Dallas Cowboys L 9–23 3–4 Jack Murphy Stadium 62,664 8 October 22 at Seattle Seahawks W 35–25 4–4 Kingdome 45,821 9 Bye 10 November 5 Miami Dolphins L 14–24 4–5 Jack Murphy Stadium 61,996 11 November 12 Kansas City Chiefs L 7–22 4–6 Jack Murphy Stadium 59,285 12 November 19 at Denver Broncos L 27–30 4–7 Mile High Stadium 74,681 13 Oakland Raiders W 12–6 5–7 Jack Murphy Stadium 60,607 14 December 3 Cleveland Browns W 31–13 6–7 Jack Murphy Stadium 56,358 15 Arizona Cardinals W 28–25 7–7 Jack Murphy Stadium 55,258 16 December 17 at Indianapolis Colts W 27–24 8–7 RCA Dome 55,318 17 at New York Giants W 27–17 9–7 Giants Stadium 50,243Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries
Week 1: at Oakland Raiders
San Diego had a 3rd and 13 at the Oakland 38 in the opening quarter, but Humphries' long pass was intercepted at the 1-yard line. The Raiders responded with a 14-play, 99-yard drive that featured 10 runs for 58 yards. Means had a 35-yard carry on the ensuing drive, which ended with Carney's 42-yard field goal miss. San Diego faced a 2nd and 20 on their next drive, but Humphries found Martin for 19 yards and Means converted the third down with a 2-yard run. On the next play, Humphries threw to Jefferson at the goal line for a touchdown. The score was 7–7 at halftime.
Means lost a fumble at his own 33-yard line on the first play of the second half; the Chargers' defense allowed only four yards, and Oakland kicked a field goal. The teams then punted twice each, but Coleman fumbled the last of these at his own 27 and Oakland recovered, setting up a touchdown two plays later. The Chargers reached a 4th and 2 at the Raiders 32 in response, but Humphries threw incomplete on the first play of the 4th quarter. San Diego turned the ball over on downs twice more during the final period.
Jefferson's 120 receiving yards were the most he had during five season in San Diego. The Chargers outgained Oakland by 371 yards to 247, but committed all three of the game's turnovers.
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks
San Diego took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards without having to convert a third down, with Martin's touchdown catch putting them ahead. They later moved from their own 9-yard line to the Seattle 40, but Humphries was intercepted and the Seahawks drove 47 yards the other way for the game-tying score. Seattle threatened to take the lead on their next possession, but Harrison intercepted Rick Mirer on a 3rd and 8 from the San Diego 13-yard line. The score remained 7–7 at halftime.
On the opening possession of the second half, Seattle reached a 3rd and goal from the San Diego 9. Mirer attempted to run the ball in, but was stopped a yard short by Bo Orlando and Glen Young. Following an exchange of punts, Humphries completed all five of his passes and accounted for 52 out of 80 yards on the go-ahead drive, capped by Harmon's touchdown catch with 13:41 to play. The Chargers missed a chance to extend their lead when Martin fumbled after a 24-yard catch to the Seattle 19-yard line. Three plays later, Harrison intercepted Mirer's long pass attempt at the San Diego 15. The Chargers then ran off the last 4:35 of the game, together with three Seahawks timeouts, with Means and Martin picking up two first downs each.
Harrison had the first two interceptions of his career. The Chargesr again comfortably outgained their opponents, this time by 397 yards to 209.
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles
San Diego went three-and-out on each of their first three possessions and already trailed by a touchdown before Means lost a fumble on the first play of their fourth possession. Randall Cunningham threw his second touchdown five plays later, and the Eagles led 14–0. Coleman returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Philadelphia 49-yard line; Harmon ran for 5 yards on a 3rd and 4, and Humphries found Jefferson for a touchdown on the next play. Shortly before halftime, Martin's 41-yard catch took the Chargers inside the Eagles 10-yard line. Humphries fumbled when sacked on 3rd down, but center Courtney Hall recovered and John Carney kicked a field goal to further narrow the gap. On the first play of the following drive, Calvin Williams fumbled and Junior Seau returned the loose ball 29 yards up the sideline before diving over a tackle for a touchdown and a 17–14 halftime lead.
Philadelphia went three-and-out to start the second half, and Coleman returned a punt 88 yards down the right sideline for another score; he ran his next return back 20 yards to the San Diego 42, eventually leading to a short Carney field goal and a run of twenty-seven unanswered points. Cunningham responded with his 3rd touchdown pass with over a quarter still to play, but the Chargers' defense didn't let the Eagles cross midfield on their final four possessions; a Harrison interception in the final seconds clinched the win.
Coleman returned three kickoffs for 75 yards and four punts for 133 yards and a touchdown. Seau's touchdown was the only one of his 20-year career.
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
Means began the Chargers' second possession with a 26-yard run and Humphries kept it going when he converted a 4th and 1 at the Denver 21 with a quarterback sneak; three plays later, Humphries was intercepted to end the threat. Denver drove 84 yards the other way, settling for a field goal after Harrison tackled Ed McCaffrey a yard short on a 3rd and 4 from the San Diego 8-yard line. The Chargers converted four shorts 3rd downs on the ensuing possession; Means accounted for three of these, including a touchdown on 3rd and goal from the Denver 2. There was no more scoring in the half, which ended with San Diego 7–3 ahead.
Terrance Shaw was flagged for a 34-yard pass interference penalty on the first play of the second half, leading to another Denver field goal. After two punts each, the Chargers had another touchdown drive sustained by four 3rd down conversions; the first three of these were on Humphries passes, then Means again scored on 3rd and goal from the Denver 2-yard line. Martin had a 26-yard catch on 2nd and 16 early in the next Chargers drive, leading to Carney's 45-yard field goal. John Elway led the Broncos to the San Diego 31, but threw four consecutive incompletions to end the final series Denver threat.
Means gained over 100 yards for the third consecutive game, all wins. The Broncos converted 3rd down opportunities only 3 times from 13 attempts, while the Chargers converted 11 of 19.
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh opened the game with a six-minute touchdown drive. San Diego reached a 2nd and 7 from the Steelers 43 in response, but a Humphries pass was deflected, intercepted by Willie Williams and run back 63 yards for a touchdown. After an exchange of punts, another deflected pass was run back 32 yards by Alvoid Mays for a score; a field goal extended their lead to twenty-four points. Lewis Bush intercepted a Mike Tomczak pass at midfield, starting a drive that Means capped with a 13-yard touchdown run, but Pittsburgh came straight back with an 82-yard touchdown drive and led 31–6 at halftime.
Humphries threw a touchdown on the Chargers' first possession of the second half, and was intercepted again on their second. He completed four consecutive passes for 70 yards late in the 3rd quarter, but was sacked on 2nd and goal from the 3-yard line and the Chargers settled for a field goal. San Diego had a chance to get closer midway through the final quarter, but Martin dropped a potential 47-yard touchdown and Humphries threw his fourth interception three plays later.
This was a rematch of the previous season's AFC championship game, won by San Diego in the same venue. Humphries threw four interceptions in a regular season game for the first time.
Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs
The first quarter saw only one possession each. San Diego opened with a 19-play drive on which Humphries completions converted four 3rd downs; they reached 2nd and goal from the 1 but were pushed when Vaughn Parker was flagged for a false start and Carney made a short field goal. The Chiefs' response took 14 plays and ended with another field goal. A 54-yard kickoff return by Coleman then set up the Chargers for a short touchdown drive capped by Means' 2-yard run. After a Chiefs field goal, Coleman fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Kansas City recovered to set up a 3-play touchdown drive and a three-point lead. The Chiefs were in position to add to that advantage shortly before halftime, but on 1st and 10 from the Chargers 18-yard line Steve Bono was sacked by Raylee Johnson and fumbled. Shawn Lee recovered the loose ball with 43 seconds remaining in the half, and Humphries managed to drive the Chargers into range for Carney to tie the score at 13–13 going into halftime.