This article is part of series of |
Los Angeles Chargers history |
---|
Los Angeles Chargers (1960) |
San Diego Chargers (1961–2016) |
Los Angeles Chargers (2017–present) |
List of seasons |
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football franchise 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 Los Angeles area. [3]
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 2023 season, the Chargers have played 64 seasons, with a cumulative record of 483–489–11 in the regular season and 12–19 in the postseason. [7]
AFL champions (1960–1969) † | Conference champions * | Division champions ^ | Wild card berth # |
Season | Team | League [7] | Conference | Division | Regular season [7] | Postseason results [10] | Awards [lower-alpha 1] | Head coaches [11] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | W | L | T | ||||||||
Los Angeles Chargers | |||||||||||
1960 | 1960 | AFL | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost AFL Championship (at Oilers) 16–24 | Sid Gillman | ||
San Diego Chargers | |||||||||||
1961 | 1961 | AFL | West^ | 1st^ | 12 | 2 | 0 | Lost AFL Championship (Oilers) 3–10 | Earl Faison (ROY) [12] | Sid Gillman | |
1962 | 1962 | AFL | West | 3rd | 4 | 10 | 0 | ||||
1963 | 1963 | AFL† | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 3 | 0 | Won AFL Championship (1) (Patriots) 51–10 | Tobin Rote (MVP) [13] | ||
1964 | 1964 | AFL | West^ | 1st^ | 8 | 5 | 1 | Lost AFL Championship (at Bills) 7–20 | |||
1965 | 1965 | AFL | West^ | 1st^ | 9 | 2 | 3 | Lost AFL Championship (Bills) 0–23 | |||
1966 | 1966 | AFL | West | 3rd | 7 | 6 | 1 | ||||
1967 | 1967 | AFL | West | 3rd | 8 | 5 | 1 | Dickie Post (OROY) [14] | |||
1968 | 1968 | AFL | West | 3rd | 9 | 5 | 0 | ||||
1969 | 1969 | AFL | West | 3rd | 8 | 6 | 0 | Sid Gillman (4–5) Charlie Waller (4–1) | |||
1970 | 1970 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 5 | 6 | 3 | Charlie Waller | ||
1971 | 1971 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | Sid Gillman (4–6) Harland Svare (2–2) | ||
1972 | 1972 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 4 | 9 | 1 | Harland Svare | ||
1973 | 1973 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 2 | 11 | 1 | Harland Svare (1–6–1) Ron Waller (1–5) | ||
1974 | 1974 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 5 | 9 | 0 | Don Woods (OROY) [15] | Tommy Prothro | |
1975 | 1975 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 2 | 12 | 0 | |||
1976 | 1976 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | |||
1977 | 1977 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 7 | 0 | |||
1978 | 1978 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Tommy Prothro (1–3) Don Coryell (8–4) | ||
1979 | 1979 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 14–17 | Don Coryell | |
1980 | 1980 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 20–14 Lost AFC Championship (Raiders) 27–34 | ||
1981 | 1981 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 41–38 (OT) [E] Lost AFC Championship (at Bengals) [F] 7–27 | ||
1982 [lower-alpha 2] | 1982 | NFL | AFC | 6th# | 6 | 3 | 0 | Won First Round Playoffs (at Steelers) 31–28 Lost Second Round Playoffs (at Dolphins) 13–34 | Dan Fouts (OPOY) [17] | ||
1983 | 1983 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 6 | 10 | 0 | |||
1984 | 1984 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 7 | 9 | 0 | |||
1985 | 1985 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||
1986 | 1986 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Leslie O'Neal (DROY) [18] | Don Coryell (1–7) Al Saunders (3–5) | |
1987 [lower-alpha 3] | 1987 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 7 | 0 | Al Saunders | ||
1988 | 1988 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | |||
1989 | 1989 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 6 | 10 | 0 | Dan Henning | ||
1990 | 1990 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | |||
1991 | 1991 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 4 | 12 | 0 | |||
1992 | 1992 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 17–0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 0–31 | Bobby Ross | |
1993 | 1993 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||
1994 | 1994 | NFL | AFC* | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 22–21 Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 17–13 Lost Super Bowl XXIX (vs. 49ers) 26–49 | ||
1995 | 1995 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd# | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 20–35 | ||
1996 | 1996 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||
1997 | 1997 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Kevin Gilbride | ||
1998 | 1998 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Kevin Gilbride (2–4) June Jones (3–7) | ||
1999 | 1999 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | Mike Riley | ||
2000 | 2000 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 1 | 15 | 0 | |||
2001 | 2001 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | |||
2002 | 2002 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Marty Schottenheimer | ||
2003 | 2003 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | |||
2004 | 2004 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 17–20 (OT) | Marty Schottenheimer (COY) [20] Drew Brees (CBPOY) [21] | |
2005 | 2005 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Shawne Merriman (DROY) [18] | ||
2006 | 2006 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 14 | 2 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 21–24 | LaDainian Tomlinson (MVP, OPOY) [22] [17] | |
2007 | 2007 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Titans) 17–6 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Colts) 28–24 Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 12–21 | Norv Turner | |
2008 | 2008 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 8 | 8 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 23–17 (OT) Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 24–35 | ||
2009 | 2009 | NFL | AFC | West^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 14–17 | ||
2010 | 2010 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | |||
2011 | 2011 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||
2012 | 2012 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | |||
2013 | 2013 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd# | 9 | 7 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Bengals) 27–10 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 17–24 | Philip Rivers (CBPOY) [21] | Mike McCoy |
2014 | 2014 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | |||
2015 | 2015 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | |||
2016 | 2016 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Joey Bosa (DROY) [18] | ||
Los Angeles Chargers | |||||||||||
2017 | 2017 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Keenan Allen (CBPOY) [21] | Anthony Lynn | |
2018 | 2018 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd# | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Ravens) 23–17 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 28–41 | ||
2019 | 2019 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | |||
2020 | 2020 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | Justin Herbert (OROY) [15] | ||
2021 | 2021 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 8 | 0 | Brandon Staley | ||
2022 | 2022 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd# | 10 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Jaguars) 30–31 | ||
2023 | 2023 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 5 | 12 | 0 | Brandon Staley (5–9) Giff Smith (0–3) | ||
Totals 1 AFL Championship 1 AFC Conference Championship 15 Division titles | 483 | 489 | 11 | (1960–2023, Regular season only) | |||||||
12 | 19 | — | (1960–2023, Postseason games only) | ||||||||
495 | 508 | 11 | (1960–2023, Total for all games) | ||||||||
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.
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquartered in Dove Valley, Colorado.
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team plays home games at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, and is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada.
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 American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team plays its home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which it shares with the Los Angeles Rams.
Kellen Boswell Winslow Sr. is an American former professional football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL). A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1995), he is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the league's history. Winslow played his entire NFL career (1979–1987) with the San Diego Chargers after being selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft. He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, earning consensus All-American honors in 1978. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Philip Michael Rivers is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Chargers franchise. He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack and was selected fourth overall in the 2004 NFL draft by the New York Giants, who traded him to the San Diego Chargers during the draft. Rivers was a member of the Chargers for 16 seasons and played his final season for the Indianapolis Colts. Since 2021, he has served as the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School.
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
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 the end of the 2016 season, before relocating back to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now known as the Los Angeles Chargers.
Keenan Alexander Allen is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears before leaving after his junior year. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft.
This timeline of the National Football League (NFL) tracks the history of each of the league's 32 current franchises from the early days of the league, through its merger with the American Football League (AFL). The history of franchises that began as independent teams, or as members of the Ohio League, New York Pro Football League, and other defunct leagues are shown as well.
The Chargers–Raiders rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders that has transcended two leagues and a combined five relocations. Since debuting in the inaugural AFL season, in 1960, as the Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers in the AFL Western Conference, both teams joined the AFC West in 1970 under the AFL–NFL merger.
The Chargers–Chiefs rivalry is an American football rivalry between the National Football League (NFL)'s Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. Since the American Football League (AFL) was established in 1960, the Chargers and the Chiefs have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, the American Football Conference (AFC) West. Following the Raiders' move to Las Vegas (Chiefs) and the Rams' return to Los Angeles, they are now the farthest apart two teams in the same division.
Justin Patrick Herbert is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and was named MVP of the 2020 Rose Bowl. Herbert was selected by the Chargers as the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team that currently plays and competes in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers were established in 1960 and played one season in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego in 1961. The team returned to Los Angeles in 2017.