In the 34 years since then, the Chargers have made ten trips to the playoffs and four appearances in the AFC Championship game.

Most pundits said the AFC West was already decided and the Chargers would have to play for the wildcard.

Injuries to both the offensive and the defensive line have hit the Chargers hard.

Except for color changes, the Chargers have basically used the logo of an arc-shaped lightning bolt since the team debuted in 1960.

The Chargers went with all-white combinations in and, only to have the blue pants make a comeback.

This remains the only game in which the Chargers have worn the all-dark combination.

Since 2007, the Chargers have worn the alternate powder blue jerseys a total of eleven times, most recently in a December 18, 2011 game vs. the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chargers currently have three retired numbers: # 14 ( Dan Fouts ), # 19 ( Lance Alworth ) and # 55 ( Junior Seau ).

As of 2010, the Chargers ' policy was to have the Chargers Hall of Fame committee evaluate candidates for a player's number to retire after the player has retired from the league after five years, Seau was the only exception to this policy.

The Chargers have rarely retired numbers.

With the Oakland Raiders wearing their white jerseys at home for the first time ever in a game against the San Diego Chargers on September 28, 2008, the Seahawks have become the only NFL team to have never worn their white jerseys at home.

The Chargers went into the final game of the season vs. the Steelers needing a win to get the # 2 seed ( a loss would have given that spot to the Miami Dolphins ), which came with a first round bye and a home game in the divisional round of the playoffs.

In addition to the predicted blowout, the Chargers did not have as much national appeal nor a relatively large core fan base as the Chiefs, the Dolphins, or the Steelers.

The Patriots have also used the formation to directly snap the ball away from the quarterback, snapping it instead to a running back ( usually Kevin Faulk ); the Patriots scored a two-point conversion via such a direct snap to Faulk in Super Bowl XXXVIII and again against the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Chargers fans have referred to the play as the Immaculate Deception ever since, and after the 1978 season, the NFL instituted the current rule that a forward fumble in the last two minutes of play ( or on fourth down ) can only be recovered and / or advanced by the player who originally fumbled.

It is also possible for a team like the 1999 St. Louis Rams not to be scheduled for a Monday night game because of its dismal record the year before, and many other NFL teams ( such as the 2004 Chargers with zero primetime games ) have had huge unforeseen turnarounds that result in lack of MNF attention ( these teams generally receive multiple MNF spots the year after their breakout success, which is great for viewers if those teams continue to play well, and not so great if they return to mediocrity or worse ).

When Joe Gibbs was the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers under Don Coryell in 1979 & 1980, Coryell would have the Chargers wear white uniforms for home games in San Diego.

Victories by both the Padres and Chargers have been celebrated by the playing of the song " Gettin ' Jiggy With It " recorded by singer and actor Will Smith.

Since then, NFL teams popularly labeled chokers have included the Dan Fouts-led San Diego Chargers in the late 1970s and early 1980s and the Jim Kelly-led Buffalo Bills in the 1990s for their four straight Super Bowl losses.

Gates went on to have another stellar season, catching 89 passes for 1, 101 yards and 10 touchdowns, but the Chargers missed the playoffs by a single win.

Various news sources including ESPN, The Los Angeles Times and the New England Sports Network have referred to the Chargers team itself as the " San Diego Super Chargers " Chargers offensive guard Doug Wilkerson, who played under Coryell, said, " We were the ‘ San Diego Super Chargers .’ That song was fast and electric, and so were we.

With players such as Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln and John Hadl, the high-scoring Chargers won divisional crowns five of the league ’ s first six seasons and the AFL title in 1963 with a 51 – 10 victory over the Boston Patriots.

The Chargers finished with an 8 — 7 record, their first winning record since 1982, despite winding up with six straight losses.

From that point on, however, the Chargers began a six game skid with losses to the Jets, Chiefs, Packers, Raiders, Bears and Broncos with the first four by only a score and against Denver in overtime.

He returned to professional football as a head coach with the Los Angeles Rams, leading the team to the NFL's championship game, and then moved to the American Football League ( 1960 – 1969 ), where he coached the Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers to five Western Division titles and one league championship in the first six years of the league's existence.

On the strength of a six touchdown performance that surpassed the previous Super Bowl record of five, owned by the man Young replaced, Joe Montana, Steve Young was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX, as the 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers, 49-26.

Maguire played in six of the ten American Football League Championship Games — three with the Chargers and three with the Bills, winning three AFL Championship rings, and he was the league's all-time punter in punts and yardage.

Brees has been selected to the Pro Bowl six times in his career – with the Chargers in 2004 and the Saints in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

" He did report to the team on September 12, and started in the team's first game on September 14 in which he recorded six tackles and sacked Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers twice.

The Chargers would win 62 percent of the games during the six years that he started.

During week five against the Chargers, Fuamatu-Ma ' afala ran the ball six times for 30 yards.

Against the Chargers, he carried the ball four times for six yards and one touchdown, he also recorded three receptions for 20 yards.

Category: San Diego Chargers players

Category: Los Angeles Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers ( AFL ) players

But by then, the Chargers fell on hard times ; Gillman, who had returned as general manager, stepped down in 1971, and many of the Charger players from the 1960s had already either retired or had been traded.

The Chargers acquired veteran players like Deacon Jones and Johnny Unitas, however it was at the later stages of their careers and the team struggled, placing third or fourth in the AFC West each year from 1970 to.

The Chargers ended up trading several players and draft choices to the Arizona Cardinals in order to move up to the second pick and select Leaf.

The Chargers announced their 50th Anniversary Team in 2009 to honor the top players and coaches in the team's history.

The team features seven Pro Football Hall of Fame members and 11 players that were active on the 2009 Chargers team.

Before the start of the 1994 season, San Diego was not expected to do well because they had so many newcomers via the draft and free agency ; the Chargers ended up 22 new players on their roster and 10 of them became starters.

Notable former Arizona Rattlers players include former Arizona Cardinal quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, former kicker Kyle Pooler former San Diego Chargers defensive specialist Cecille Doggette, former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Randy Gatewood, former New Orleans Saints lineman Mark Tucker and former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Chris Horn.

Category: San Diego Chargers players

Category: San Diego Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers players

Category: San Diego Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers players

Category: Los Angeles Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers players

In 1955, the Hillsdale Dales / Chargers team under head coach Muddy Waters refused to play in the game despite their 9 – 0 record because game officials prohibited the team's black players from participating in the game.

Category: San Diego Chargers ( AFL ) players

Category: San Diego Chargers players