San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers were founded in 1960 and entered the National Football League (NFL) in 1970. The franchise has not been very successful since its arrival into the league, but they have had some bright spots. After years in the cellar of their division, the Chargers came in first place in the AFC West from 1979 to 1981. They were one game away from the Super Bowl in 1980 and 1981, but lost to the Oakland Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals, respectively. They spent nearly a decade in the cellar once again until 1992, when they finally made the playoffs again. Two years later, the Chargers made their first and only Super Bowl appearance in history against the San Francisco 49ers.

Unfortunately for the Chargers, after their long wait, they were simply overmatched in Super Bowl XXIX. No one had expected them to even reach playoffs in 1994, let alone make the Super Bowl. The team was led by quarterback Stan Humphries and running back Natrone Means. Their defense is what got them to the Super Bowl though, led by linebacker Junior Seau and safety Rodney Harrison. That combination seemed like nothing compared to what the 49ers had with quarterback Steve Young and wide receiver Jerry Rice, arguably one of the best pairs in NFL history. The game was never close, and the Chargers lost 49-26.

San Diego Chargers Information

After their Super Bowl season, the Chargers fell into another decade of poor play and disappointing seasons. Then, after finishing 4-12 in 2003, the Chargers stunned everyone in 2004 by finishing the regular season at 12-4, which was good enough to finish in first place in the AFC West under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Drew Brees led the team at the quarterback position and the young LaDanian Tomlinson established himself as a running back who could become one of the game’s best runners of all time. The Chargers lost in the first round of the playoffs, but had high hopes for the following season.

Throughout the entire 2005 season, the Chargers became the best team in the league that couldn’t win. They finished at 9-7, but many critics believed that they were one of the top four teams in the AFC. The Chargers decided to let Drew Brees walk away following the season, hoping that the young Phillip Rivers will be their quarterback of the future.

One of the most popular players in Chargers’ history is tight end Kellen Winslow. Winslow, a Hall of Famer, played with the team from 1979 to 1987 and caught 541 passes for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns during that period. Winslow’s son, Kellen Winslow II, was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2004 and hopes to have as good of a career as his father.

The Chargers’ logo has always consisted of a variation of a lightning bolt. The logo is currently outlined by navy and gold trim, and also appears on their helmet. Although the Chargers have not been the most dominating team in the history of the NFL, they are beginning to establish themselves as a team that can put up points at any time and could be a playoff contender for years to come.

California Team Information