Los Angeles Chargers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Los Angeles Chargers |
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| Basic info | |||||||||||||
| Established | August 14, 1959 | ||||||||||||
| Colors | Powder blue, sunshine gold, white |
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| Personnel | |||||||||||||
| Owner(s) | Dean Spanos Tom Gores | ||||||||||||
| President | A. G. Spanos | ||||||||||||
| General manager | Joe Hortiz | ||||||||||||
| Head coach | Jim Harbaugh | ||||||||||||
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| League / conference affiliations | |||||||||||||
American Football League (1960–1969)
National Football League (1970–present)
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| Championships | |||||||||||||
League championships: 1
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Conference championships: 1
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Division championships: 15
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| Playoff appearances (20) | |||||||||||||
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The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team. They are based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers play in the National Football League (NFL). They are part of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team plays its home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. They share this stadium with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Chargers started in Los Angeles in 1959. They began playing in 1960. They were one of the first teams in the American Football League (AFL). After their first season in Los Angeles, they moved to San Diego in 1961. They became the San Diego Chargers. The team joined the NFL in 1970 after the AFL–NFL merger. In 2017, the Chargers moved back to Los Angeles. They had been in San Diego for 56 seasons.
The Chargers won the AFL championship in 1963. They reached the AFL playoffs five times. They also played in the AFL Championship game four times. This was before they joined the NFL. Since then, the Chargers have made it to the playoffs 15 times. They have played in the AFC Championship game four times. In 1994, the Chargers won their first and only AFC championship. They played against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX. They lost that game 49–26.
Many great players and one coach from the Chargers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These include wide receiver Lance Alworth, defensive end Fred Dean, and quarterback Dan Fouts. Also, head coach Sid Gillman, wide receiver Charlie Joiner, offensive lineman Ron Mix, and tight end Kellen Winslow. Plus, linebacker Junior Seau and running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
In August 2022, Forbes magazine said the Los Angeles Chargers were worth about 3.875 billion dollars. This made them the 20th richest NFL team.
Contents
Chargers Team History
Starting in Los Angeles (1960)
The Chargers team was created in 1959. Seven other American Football League teams started at the same time. The Chargers began playing in Los Angeles in 1960. The first owner was Barron Hilton, whose family started Hilton Hotels. He chose the name "Chargers" because people would yell "charge" at sports games.
Years in San Diego
In December 1960, the Chargers decided to move. They chose San Diego because they were losing money in Los Angeles. They moved to Balboa Stadium in January 1961. The city improved the stadium, making it bigger. The Chargers had a very strong defense in their first San Diego season. They won the AFL title in 1963 against the Boston Patriots. However, they lost the championship games in 1964 and 1965.
In the late 1960s, the team got new owners. They also faced money problems. In 1966, Hilton sold the team. The team moved to San Diego Stadium in 1967. They played well but did not win any more championships. By 1970, they joined the NFL after the AFL and NFL merged. The team struggled in the early 1970s. They changed coaches and their performance went down.
The Chargers hired Don Coryell as head coach in 1978. He brought in a new playing style called "Air Coryell." This was a pass-heavy strategy. It made the team play much better. With quarterback Dan Fouts, the Chargers led the league in passing yards for many years. The team made it to the playoffs four times in a row from 1979 to 1982. They won three AFC West division titles. Even with great regular seasons, they had tough playoff games. One famous game was the "Epic in Miami" in 1981.
The 1990s brought more changes. Bobby Ross became head coach in 1992. The Chargers won the AFC West title in 1992. They reached the Super Bowl for the first time in 1994. They lost to the San Francisco 49ers 49–26.
Marty Schottenheimer became the Chargers' head coach in 2002. In his first year, the team had an 8–8 record. In 2003, they had a 4–12 record. The Chargers picked Eli Manning first in the 2004 NFL Draft. But Manning did not want to play for them. So, they traded him to the Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers was also a first-round pick. The Chargers improved to a 12–4 record in 2004. They won the AFC West division. But their playoff run was short. They lost to the Jets in the Wild Card Round. In 2005, the Chargers went 9–7 but missed the playoffs. Rivers became the starting quarterback in 2006. He became a very important player for the Chargers. In 2006, the Chargers won the division with a 14–2 record. This was their best record ever. They lost to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round. Even after this great season, the team fired Schottenheimer.
Before the 2007 season, Norv Turner became head coach. In his first year, Turner led the Chargers to an AFC West title. They beat the Titans and the Colts in the playoffs. But they lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship. In 2008, the team had an 8–8 record. But they still won the division. They beat the Colts in the Wild Card Round. Then they lost to the Steelers in the Divisional Round. In 2009, the Chargers went 13–3 and won the division again. But they lost to the Jets in the Divisional Round. In 2010, the Chargers went 9–7 and missed the playoffs. Many of their losses were by a small number of points. In 2011, the team went 8–8 and missed the playoffs. In 2012, they went 7–9, missed the playoffs, and Turner was fired.
Mike McCoy became the new head coach in 2013. In 2013, the Chargers went 9–7 and made the playoffs. They finished third in the AFC West. The Chargers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 27–10 in the Wild Card Round. But they lost to the Denver Broncos 24–17 in the Divisional Round. In 2014, the Chargers went 9–7 again but missed the playoffs. In 2015, the Chargers went 4–12. In 2016, they went 5–11 and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. Mike McCoy was fired after this season. In 2017, the Chargers moved back to Los Angeles.
Returning to Los Angeles
Chargers owner Dean Spanos announced the move on January 12, 2017. The team would pay the NFL a $645 million fee to move. They announced they would return to Los Angeles, where they started. They would play at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson starting in the 2017 NFL season. This stadium held 30,000 people. This was less than the NFL's 50,000 minimum for temporary homes. This stadium was home to the Major League Soccer team, LA Galaxy. It was the Chargers' temporary home until they moved to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in the 2020 NFL season. The Chargers were the second San Diego sports team to move to Los Angeles. The Clippers basketball team moved in 1984.
One week after the move, some NFL owners were reportedly upset. They wanted the Chargers to move back to San Diego. But this was not seen as likely.
Anthony Lynn's Coaching Years (2017–2020)
On January 13, the Chargers fired their defensive coordinator. They hired Gus Bradley on January 20 to replace him. Bradley had been a head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chargers also hired Anthony Lynn as their new head coach.
In their first game back in Los Angeles at StubHub Center, about 25,000 people attended. Fans of the Chargers and the Miami Dolphins were about half and half. After this, the NFL thought about moving the Chargers back to San Diego. But the league officially said this was not happening. San Diego did not have a usable stadium. The Spanos family also refused to go back to the city. The team finished with a 9–7 record. But they missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
The Chargers had a 12–4 record in 2018. They made it to the playoffs. They beat the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round. But they lost to the New England Patriots in the Divisional round. The Patriots later won the Super Bowl. However, the Chargers still had trouble getting fans to their games. For example, at their 2018 home opener, many fans were for the visiting Kansas City Chiefs. It felt like a Chiefs home game.
The team's struggle to attract fans led them to lower their money goals. This made some owners doubt if the Chargers would do well in Los Angeles. The Chargers also get only a small part of season ticket money until 2040.
In the 2019 season, the Chargers had a poor 5–11 record. They lost all their games against teams in their division. Philip Rivers, their longtime starting quarterback, left the team.
On September 13, 2020, Tyrod Taylor became the starting quarterback. He was the first new starting quarterback since Philip Rivers in 2005. He led them to a 16–13 win. On September 20, 2020, Taylor got hurt. Rookie quarterback Justin Herbert had to start. Herbert led the team to a close loss against the Chiefs, 23–20. In week 13, the Chargers lost to the Patriots 45–0. This was their worst loss ever. The season ended with a 38–21 win over the Chiefs. Justin Herbert broke many rookie records that season. But the Chargers finished with a 7–9 record. After the 2020 season, Anthony Lynn was fired as head coach.
Brandon Staley's Coaching Years (2021–2023)
The Chargers hired Brandon Staley as their new head coach on January 17, 2021. He had been a defensive coordinator for the Rams. Brandon Staley brought in Joe Lombardi as the new offensive coordinator. He also hired Renaldo Hill as their new defensive coordinator.
In the 2021 season, the Chargers' record improved to 9–8. The NFL added a 17th game to the season. Herbert broke many records for a second-year player. But the Chargers missed the playoffs. They lost an overtime game to the Raiders in week 18. This was a "win-or-tie-or-go-home" game.
On February 3, 2022, the Chargers hired Ryan Ficken. In 2022, the Chargers announced a new team headquarters in El Segundo, California. The Chargers finished the 2022 NFL season with a 10–7 record. They were the 5th seed in the AFC. They lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They had a big lead of 27–0 but lost the game. Despite the playoff loss, more fans were coming to their games. Their average attendance was high for a second year in a row.
On January 17, 2023, the Chargers fired their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Chargers hired Kellen Moore as their new offensive coordinator on January 31. He had been with the Cowboys. Chargers defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill left the team on February 20. He joined the Miami Dolphins. Derrick Ansley filled his spot on the same day.
On December 15, 2023, head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco were fired. This happened after a big 63–21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Giff Smith was the interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Chargers finished 2023 with a 5–12 record.
Jim Harbaugh's Coaching Era (2024–present)
The Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh on January 24, 2024. He was the coach for Michigan football. Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014. He led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII, but they lost. He coached Michigan football from 2015 to 2024. There, he had a record of 86–25. He reached the college football playoffs three times. He also won the 2024 National Championship. Before coaching, Jim Harbaugh was a quarterback for the Chargers from 1999 to 2000.
Team Logos and Uniforms
The Chargers have mostly used a lightning bolt logo since 1960. This logo is arc-shaped. In the AFL, they also used a shield logo. It had a horsehead, a lightning bolt, and the word "Chargers." The team brought this shield logo back for their uniforms in 2018.
From 1960 to 1973, their colors were electric blue (called "powder" blue) or white jerseys. Both had gold lightning bolts on the shoulders. Their helmets were white. They had the arc-shaped lightning bolt logo in gold or navy. The player's number was also on the helmet. At first, they wore white pants. Then they switched to gold pants in 1966. In 1973, the numbers on the blue jerseys changed from white to gold.
In 1974, the sky blue changed to dark royal blue. The helmet also became dark blue. Player numbers were removed from the helmet. The face masks became yellow. This made them one of the first NFL teams to use a yellow facemask. From 1978 to 1983, the Chargers wore white jerseys at home. This changed in 1984 when they started wearing blue jerseys at home.
In 1985, the Chargers began using navy blue jerseys. They went back to wearing white pants. The team's uniform design changed again in 1988. It used an even darker navy blue. The lightning bolts on the jerseys and helmets were white. They had navy trim and gold outlines. The facemasks became navy blue. In 1990, the team started wearing navy pants with their white jerseys. From 1988 to 1991, the pants had stripes instead of lightning bolts. The Chargers wore all-white uniforms in 1997 and 2001. But the blue pants came back. On October 27, 2003, the Chargers wore navy pants with their navy jersey. This was for a game played in Arizona due to wildfires. This was the only time they wore all-dark until 2020.
From the late 1980s to 2000, the Chargers wore white at home for some preseason games. They wore dark for regular season games. In 2001, they started wearing dark uniforms for preseason games. They wore white uniforms for September home games because of the heat. Then they switched back to dark in October.
In March 2007, the Chargers showed off their first new uniform design since 1988. Navy blue stayed the main color for the home jersey. But the lightning bolt went back to gold. It now had navy outlines and powder blue inside. This powder blue was a nod to their 1960s uniforms. The lightning bolt moved to the sides of the shoulders. New numbers and team name font were added. The pants also got a new lightning bolt design. The team also used a metallic white helmet with a navy facemask. The road white jerseys and alternate powder blue jerseys also got the new look.
From 2002 to 2006, the Chargers used the early-1960s powder blue uniforms as alternate jerseys. Many fans wanted the team to wear them all the time. From 2007 to 2018, the Chargers wore the alternate powder blue jerseys twice a season. They also wore them in a playoff game in 2008.
In 2009, for their 50th anniversary, the Chargers wore their 1963 throwback uniforms for three games. In 2013, the Chargers made small changes to their uniforms. These included two-tone nameplates and collars matching the jersey color. They also added a gold stripe on the socks.
On January 12, 2017, when the Chargers moved to Los Angeles, they showed a new logo. It had "LA" with a lightning bolt. Many people said it looked too much like the Los Angeles Dodgers logo. The team tried to change its colors. But they removed the logo completely after two days.
On April 16, 2019, the team announced a change. They would wear their powder blue jerseys as their main home uniform. These were the same uniforms they wore in their first season in Los Angeles in 1960. The facemask color also changed from navy blue to gold.
On March 24, 2020, the team announced new logos and uniforms. The new logos removed navy blue. The lightning bolt changed slightly. A new script logo with powder blue and gold was introduced. On April 21, 2020, the new uniforms were shown. This set has numbers on the helmet. It includes two "color-rush" uniforms. One is royal blue, like before. The other is all-navy. Gold pants were also added. Powder blue became the main color again.
Team Rivalries
Teams often have rivalries with other teams they play against a lot. These games are usually very exciting!
Las Vegas Raiders
The Chargers and Raiders have been rivals since 1963. One famous game was the "Holy Roller" in 1978. The Raiders intentionally fumbled to score a touchdown. This play caused a rule change the next season. On November 22, 1982, the Raiders beat the Chargers 28–24 after being down 24–0. On January 10, 2022, the Raiders beat the Chargers in overtime, 35–32. If the game had been a tie, both teams would have made the playoffs. But the Raiders won, and the Chargers were out. The Raiders have won more games in this rivalry. They also won the only playoff game between them in 1980.
Los Angeles Rams
When the Raiders were in Los Angeles, they had a rivalry with the Rams. This ended when both teams moved away. The rivalry came back when the Chargers moved to Los Angeles in 2017. In 2017, players from both teams got into a fight during a practice. The Rams have done well since 2017. They won two division titles and went to the Super Bowl. The Chargers also did well in 2018 with a 12–4 record. They made it to the playoffs. The Rams won the first regular season game between the two teams in Los Angeles in 2018. The Chargers won the next game in 2022. The Rams have won more games in this rivalry overall.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have won more games against the Chargers. But the Chargers won their only playoff game against the Chiefs in 1992.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have won more games against the Chargers. They also won the only playoff game between them in 2013.
Recent Season Records
This table shows the Chargers' records for the last five seasons. It also shows how they did in the NFL playoffs. The Chargers made the playoffs twice in the last five seasons. In 2018, they lost in the Divisional round to the Patriots. Some Chargers players have won special awards. Joey Bosa was NFL Rookie of the Year in 2016 (Defense). Justin Herbert was NFL Rookie of the Year in 2020 (Offense). Keenan Allen was NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2017.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage
| Season | GP | W | L | W–L% | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019 | 16 | 5 | 11 | .313 | 4th, AFC West | did not qualify |
| 2020 | 16 | 7 | 9 | .438 | 3rd, AFC West | did not qualify |
| 2021 | 17 | 9 | 8 | .529 | 3rd, AFC West | did not qualify |
| 2022 | 17 | 10 | 7 | .588 | 2nd, AFC West | Lost in Wild Card, 31–30 (Jaguars) |
| 2023 | 17 | 5 | 12 | .294 | 4th, AFC West | did not qualify |
Important Players
Current Team Roster
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Los Angeles Chargers roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
→ AFC rosters → NFC rosters |
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Retired Jersey Numbers
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The Chargers have retired six jersey numbers. These numbers are #14 for Dan Fouts, #18 for Charlie Joiner, #19 for Lance Alworth, #21 for LaDainian Tomlinson, #55 for Junior Seau, and #80 for Kellen Winslow. When a number is retired, no other player on the team can wear it. The Chargers usually wait five years after a player retires to consider retiring their number. Junior Seau was an exception to this rule. The team has not officially retired #17 (Philip Rivers) or #85 (Antonio Gates), but no one has worn them since those players retired.
| Los Angeles Chargers Retired Numbers | ||||
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| No. | Player | Position | Years Played | Date Retired |
| 14 | Dan Fouts | QB | 1973–1987 | March 24, 1988 |
| 18 | Charlie Joiner | WR | 1976–1986 | September 10, 2023 |
| 19 | Lance Alworth | WR | 1962–1970 | November 20, 2005 |
| 21 | LaDainian Tomlinson | RB | 2001–2009 | November 21, 2015 |
| 55 | Junior Seau | LB | 1990–2002 | May 11, 2012 |
| 80 | Kellen Winslow | TE | 1979–1987 | September 10, 2023 |
Pro Football Hall of Famers
The Pro Football Hall of Fame honors the best players and coaches in NFL history. Many Chargers have been chosen for this special honor.
| * | Member of the Chargers Hall of Fame |
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| † | Member of the Chargers Hall of Fame and their number is retired by the Chargers |
| San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Famers | ||||
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| Players | ||||
| Name | No. | Position | Years Played | Year Inducted |
| Lance Alworth † | 19 | WR | 1962–1970 | 1978 |
| Ron Mix * | 74 | OT | 1960–1969 | 1979 |
| Johnny Unitas | 19 | QB | 1973 | 1979 |
| Deacon Jones | 75 | DE | 1972–1973 | 1980 |
| John Mackey | 89 | TE | 1972 | 1992 |
| Dan Fouts † | 14 | QB | 1973–1987 | 1993 |
| Larry Little | 72 | G | 1967–1968 | 1993 |
| Kellen Winslow † | 80 | TE | 1979–1987 | 1995 |
| Charlie Joiner † | 18 | WR | 1976–1986 | 1996 |
| Fred Dean * | 71 | DE | 1975–1981 | 2008 |
| Junior Seau † | 55 | LB | 1990–2002 | 2015 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson † | 21 | RB | 2001–2009 | 2017 |
| Coaches & Front Office Staff | ||||
| Name | Position | Years with Team | Year Inducted | |
| Sid Gillman * | Head coach | 1960–1971 | 1983 | |
| Bobby Beathard * | General Manager | 1990–2000 | 2018 | |
| Don Coryell * | Head coach | 1978–1986 | 2023 | |
Chargers Hall of Fame
The Chargers started their own Hall of Fame in 1976. These honored members are recognized at the Chargers Ring of Honor. This was started in 2000. Players can be chosen for the Hall of Fame four seasons after they retire. A special committee chooses the members. In 2012, fans were allowed to vote for a new member.
50th Anniversary Team
In 2009, the Chargers announced their 50th Anniversary Team. This team honored the best players and coaches in the team's history. The team had 53 players and coaches. Fans voted online, and their votes counted for half of the decision. Votes from Chargers Hall of Famers and local media made up the other half. Over 400,000 votes were cast online. Dan Fouts and LaDainian Tomlinson received the most votes. The team included 7 Pro Football Hall of Fame members. It also had 11 players who were on the 2009 Chargers team.
San Diego Hall of Champions
Many Chargers players and coaches are also in the San Diego Hall of Champions. This Hall of Fame includes athletes from the San Diego area. It also honors those who played for San Diego professional and college teams.
Team Staff
Head Coaches
Current Staff
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→ Coaching staff |
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Team Theme Song
The Chargers' team song is "San Diego Super Chargers". It was recorded in 1979. This was when the team was very successful with the "Air Coryell" playing style. The song has a disco sound. In 1989, the team changed the song to a non-disco version. But the original song came back in 2002. The team played this song at home games after they scored or won. They stopped playing it when they left San Diego.
Images for kids
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Map of radio affiliates
See also
In Spanish: Los Angeles Chargers para niños
