List of Los Angeles Chargers seasons

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Los Angeles Chargers history
Los Angeles Chargers (1960)
San Diego Chargers (1961–2016)
Los Angeles Chargers (2017–present)
List of seasons

San Diego Stadium, where the Chargers played their home games from 1967 to 2016. Qualcomm Stadium.jpg
San Diego Stadium, where the Chargers played their home games from 1967 to 2016.

The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The club was founded in 1959 by Barron Hilton and played the 1960 season in Los Angeles as part of the American Football League (AFL). [1] In the next season, the Chargers moved to San Diego. [2] In 2017, the Chargers relocated back to the Greater Los Angeles area. [3]

Contents

The franchise has experienced three major periods of success. The first was from 1960 to 1965, when the Chargers were AFL West champions five times and AFL champions once (in 1963). [4] The second was from 1978 to 1982, when the Chargers had five consecutive winning records, four playoff appearances and three division championships. [5] The most recent spell of sustained success ranged from 2004 to 2009, with the franchise reaching the playoffs five times in six years, each time as the AFC West champion. [6] This run included their best regular season record, as they went 14–2 in 2006. [7] Their only Super Bowl appearance was in 1994 (a loss to the San Francisco 49ers) [8]

The Chargers have also experienced three notable periods of decline. For the thirteen seasons between 1965 and 1977 the Chargers never reached the postseason; they failed to post a winning record through their first eight years in the NFL (1970–77) and finished last in their division for four consecutive years from 1972 to 1975. [9] From 1983 to 1991, they never placed higher than third in their division and did not make the playoffs. [7] From 1996 to 2003, the team had no winning seasons, and posted their worst record to date, going 1–15 in 2000. [7]

The Chargers have been division champions fourteen times: five in the AFL West and nine in the AFC West. As of the end of the 2024 season, the Chargers have played 65 seasons, with a cumulative record of 494–495–11 in the regular season and 12–20 in the postseason. [7]

Seasons

Table legend
AFL champions (1960–1969) †Conference champions *Division champions ^ Wild card berth  #
Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers seasonal records
SeasonTeamLeague [7] ConferenceDivisionRegular season [7] Postseason results [10] Awards [a] Head coaches [11]
FinishWLT
Los Angeles Chargers
1960 1960 AFL West^1st^1040Lost AFL Championship (at Oilers) 16–24 Sid Gillman
San Diego Chargers
1961 1961 AFLWest^1st^1220Lost AFL Championship (Oilers) 3–10 Earl Faison (ROY) [12] Sid Gillman
1962 1962 AFLWest3rd4100
1963 1963 AFL†West^1st^1130Won AFL Championship (1) (Patriots) 51–10 Tobin Rote (MVP) [13]
1964 1964 AFLWest^1st^851Lost AFL Championship (at Bills) 7–20
1965 1965 AFLWest^1st^923Lost AFL Championship (Bills) 0–23
1966 1966 AFLWest3rd761
1967 1967 AFLWest3rd851 Dickie Post (OROY) [14]
1968 1968 AFLWest3rd950
1969 1969 AFLWest3rd860Sid Gillman (4–5)
Charlie Waller (4–1)
1970 1970 NFL AFC West 3rd563Charlie Waller
1971 1971 NFLAFCWest3rd680Sid Gillman (4–6)
Harland Svare (2–2)
1972 1972 NFLAFCWest4th491Harland Svare
1973 1973 NFLAFCWest4th2111Harland Svare (1–6–1)
Ron Waller (1–5)
1974 1974 NFLAFCWest4th590 Don Woods (OROY) [15] Tommy Prothro
1975 1975 NFLAFCWest4th2120
1976 1976 NFLAFCWest3rd680
1977 1977 NFLAFCWest3rd770
1978 1978 NFLAFCWest3rd970Tommy Prothro (1–3)
Don Coryell (8–4)
1979 1979 NFLAFCWest^1st^1240Lost Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 14–17Don Coryell
1980 1980 NFLAFCWest^1st^1150Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 20–14
Lost AFC Championship (Raiders) 27–34
1981 1981 NFLAFCWest^1st^1060Won Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 41–38 (OT) [E]
Lost AFC Championship (at Bengals) [F] 7–27
1982 [b] 1982 NFLAFC6th#630Won First Round Playoffs (at Steelers) 31–28
Lost Second Round Playoffs (at Dolphins) 13–34		 Dan Fouts (OPOY) [17]
1983 1983 NFLAFCWest5th6100
1984 1984 NFLAFCWest5th790
1985 1985 NFLAFCWest3rd880
1986 1986 NFLAFCWest5th4120 Leslie O'Neal (DROY) [18] Don Coryell (1–7)
Al Saunders (3–5)
1987 [c] 1987 NFLAFCWest3rd870 Al Saunders
1988 1988 NFLAFCWest4th6100
1989 1989 NFLAFCWest5th6100 Dan Henning
1990 1990 NFLAFCWest4th6100
1991 1991 NFLAFCWest5th4120
1992 1992 NFLAFCWest^1st^1150Won Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 17–0
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 0–31		 Bobby Ross
1993 1993 NFLAFCWest4th880
1994 1994 NFLAFC*West^1st^1150Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 22–21
Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 17–13
Lost Super Bowl XXIX (vs. 49ers) 26–49
1995 1995 NFLAFCWest2nd#970Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 20–35
1996 1996 NFLAFCWest3rd880
1997 1997 NFLAFCWest5th4120 Kevin Gilbride
1998 1998 NFLAFCWest5th5110Kevin Gilbride (2–4)
June Jones (3–7)
1999 1999 NFLAFCWest4th880 Mike Riley
2000 2000 NFLAFCWest5th1150
2001 2001 NFLAFCWest5th5110
2002 2002 NFLAFCWest3rd880 Marty Schottenheimer
2003 2003 NFLAFCWest4th4120
2004 2004 NFLAFCWest^1st^1240Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 17–20 (OT) Marty Schottenheimer (COY) [20]
Drew Brees (CBPOY) [21]
2005 2005 NFLAFCWest3rd970 Shawne Merriman (DROY) [18]
2006 2006 NFLAFCWest^1st^1420Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 21–24 LaDainian Tomlinson (MVP, OPOY) [22] [17]
2007 2007 NFLAFCWest^1st^1150Won Wild Card Playoffs (Titans) 17–6
Won Divisional Playoffs (at Colts) 28–24
Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 12–21		 Norv Turner
2008 2008 NFLAFCWest^1st^880Won Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 23–17 (OT)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 24–35
2009 2009 NFLAFCWest^1st^1330Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 14–17
2010 2010 NFLAFCWest2nd970
2011 2011 NFLAFCWest2nd880
2012 2012 NFLAFCWest2nd790
2013 2013 NFLAFCWest3rd#970Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Bengals) 27–10
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 17–24		 Philip Rivers (CBPOY) [21] Mike McCoy
2014 2014 NFLAFCWest3rd970
2015 2015 NFLAFCWest4th4120
2016 2016 NFLAFCWest4th5110 Joey Bosa (DROY) [18]
Los Angeles Chargers
2017 2017 NFLAFCWest2nd970 Keenan Allen (CBPOY) [21] Anthony Lynn
2018 2018 NFLAFCWest2nd#1240Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Ravens) 23–17
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 28–41
2019 2019 NFLAFCWest4th5110
2020 2020 NFLAFCWest3rd790 Justin Herbert (OROY) [15]
2021 2021 NFLAFCWest3rd980 Brandon Staley
2022 2022 NFLAFCWest2nd#1070Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Jaguars) 30–31
2023 2023 NFLAFCWest4th5120Brandon Staley (5–9)
Giff Smith (0–3)
2024 2024 NFLAFCWest2nd#1160Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Texans) 12–32 Jim Harbaugh
Totals
1 AFL Championship
1 AFC Conference Championship
15 Division titles		49449511(1960–2024, Regular season only)
1220—(1960–2024, Postseason games only)
50651511(1960–2024, Total for all games)

Notes

  1. ↑ Only Associated Press (AP) awards are included
  2. ↑ The 1982 season was reduced to nine games by a players strike; instead of standard divisional play, the AFC teams were placed together in one fourteen-team division. [16]
  3. ↑ The 1987 season was reduced to fifteen games by a players strike. [19]

References

  1. ↑ "Grid league ready for losses". Racine Journal Times. AP. p. 17.
  2. ↑ "Chronology". chargers.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  3. ↑ Knoblauch, Austin (January 12, 2017). "Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Chargers fly high---and Lowe, 37–26". Los Angeles Times. UPI. December 13, 1965. p. III-8. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Last minute factors". Scranton Times-Tribune. January 9, 1983. p. C-7. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  6. ↑ Martin, Kimberley A. (January 12, 2010). "Tall order for Jets' defense". New York Newsday. p. A46. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "San Diego Chargers Franchise Encyclopedia". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Charger fans find solace in season". Bridgewater Courier-News. AP. January 30, 1994. p. C-2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Lowitt, Bruce (December 24, 1979). "Oilers, Eagles pass first tests". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B-1. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers playoff history". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers coaches". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ "AP AFL Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  13. ↑ "AP AFL Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  14. ↑ "AP AFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Tentative agreement reached; NFL to resume play Sunday with nine-week abbreviated season". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram . AP. February 5, 1982. p. 1B. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 "AP Offensive Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 "AP Defensive Rookie of the Year". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  19. ↑ Posner, Jay (October 20, 1987). "First-place team tries out driver's seat". Escondido Times-Advocate. p. D2. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "AP Coach of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 "AP Comeback Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  22. ↑ "AP NFL Most Valuable Player Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

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