The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence. It was more successful than earlier rivals to the NFL with the same name, the 1926, 1936 and 1940 leagues, and the later All-America Football Conference.
Charles B. Joiner Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. He is best known for his career with the San Diego Chargers, with whom he spent 11 seasons. Before joining the Chargers, he played for the Houston Oilers and Cincinnati Bengals each for four seasons. He retired with the most career receptions, receiving yards, and games played of any wide receiver in NFL history. Joiner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
Jamal Williams is a former American football nose tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 1998 Supplemental Draft. He played college football for Oklahoma State University. After three consecutive All-Pro seasons in the NFL, Williams—at a massive 6′3″, 350 pounds—was described as a "textbook block-of-granite noseman" by Sports Illustrated′s Peter King in 2007.
David Stewart Ball is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, and earned unanimous All-American honors. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and has also played for the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans of the NFL.
Joe Dan Washington Jr is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.
Edward Alvin White is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). After retiring from football, White has worked as a coach and artist.
Wesley Sandy Chandler is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and ranked twelfth in NFL history in receiving yards and thirteenth in receptions when he retired. Chandler is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. He played college football for the Florida Gators and was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
William Alan Munson was an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1979. He also played college football for Utah State where he set multiple passing records as a senior in 1963.
Donald Matthew Macek is an American former football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers for fourteen seasons. Macek played college football for the Boston College Eagles. He was drafted by the Chargers in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft. Despite being underrated throughout his career, some have considered him among the top performing NFL centers during the 1980s and the best Charger at that position up to that point in time. In 1991, he was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame and to the Chargers Hall of Fame in 2004.
Gary Lynn Garrison is a former American football wide receiver who played professional football in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He attended San Diego State University from 1964 to 1965. His 26 touchdown receptions are still a career school record.
The professional American football team now known as the Los Angeles Chargers previously played in San Diego as the San Diego Chargers from 1961 to 2016 before relocating back to Los Angeles where the team played their inaugural season. The Chargers franchise relocated from Los Angeles to San Diego in 1961. The Chargers' first home game in San Diego was at Balboa Stadium against the Oakland Raiders on September 17, 1961. Their final game as a San Diego-based club was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego at the end of the 2016 season against the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated them 37–27.
Jacque Harold MacKinnon was an American football tight end in the American Football League for the San Diego Chargers. He also was a member of the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League and the Southern California Sun in the World Football League. He played college football at Colgate University.
The 1976 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's seventh season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 17th overall. The Chargers improved on their putrid 2-12 record from 1975 and finished 6-8, but missed the playoffs for the 11th straight season. The Chargers started off the season by winning their first 3 games, but they struggled through the rest of the season by losing 8 of their last 11 games, which included 4 shutout losses, two of which were to division rival Denver.
William McKinley Brooks III is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals 11th overall in the 1976 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma. Brooks also played for the San Diego Chargers and Houston Oilers.
Orlando D. Franklin is a Jamaican-born former American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami, and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Redskins.
Hunter Henry is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Henry was a member of the Chargers for five seasons before joining the Patriots in 2021.
Joseph Anthony Bosa is an American football outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State and was selected third overall by the Chargers in the 2016 NFL Draft, where he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Bosa has since been cited as among the best pass rushers in the NFL. He is the son of former NFL player John Bosa and the older brother of current NFL player Nick Bosa.
Clifford Valmore Olander is a former American football quarterback who played three seasons with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Chargers in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He played college football at New Mexico State University. He was also a member of the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Germaine Pratt is an American football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State, and was drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Rashawn Slater is an American football offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern and was drafted by the Chargers in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
