RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
The Chargers club was founded as a Los Angeles-based team on August 14, 1959, and began play on September 10, 1960, as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). They spent their first season in Los Angeles before relocating to San Diego in 1961 to become the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers joined the NFL as result of the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The Chargers returned to Los Angeles prior to the 2017 season after 56 seasons in San Diego, just one year after the Rams had moved back to the city from St. Louis. The team previously played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during their first stint in Los Angeles, Balboa Stadium and San Diego Stadium (also known as Jack Murphy Stadium and Qualcomm Stadium) while in San Diego, and Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly named StubHub Center) from 2017 to 2019 while SoFi Stadium was under construction.
The Chargers won the AFL championship in 1963 and reached the AFL playoffs five times and the AFL Championship game four times before joining the NFL (1970) as part of the AFL–NFL merger. In the years since the merger, the Chargers have made 13 trips to the playoffs and four appearances in the AFC Championship game. In 1994, the Chargers won their lone AFC championship and faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX, losing 49–26. The Chargers have eight players and one coach enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio: wide receiver Lance Alworth (1962–1970), defensive end Fred Dean (1975–1981), quarterback Dan Fouts (1973–1987), head coach–general manager Sid Gillman (1960–1969, 1971), wide receiver Charlie Joiner (1976–1986), offensive lineman Ron Mix (1960–1969), tight end Kellen Winslow (1979–1987), linebacker Junior Seau (1990–2002), and running back LaDainian Tomlinson (2001–2009).
Shek & Rank are joined in Studio 66 by a trio of Super Bowl-champion Seahawks -- Michael Robinson, Jermaine Kearse and Bobby Wagner -- for a conversation about how Pete Carroll prepared the team for the big game, how they slept the night before, what happened at halftime, trash talking and more. The fellas then get the great Jared Allen on the line to discuss names for a potential NFL team in Los Angeles, what it would take for him to sign with the Browns, and the most famous Jared ever. - - Learn more about your ad-choices at
Ryan Leaf reveals his behind-the-scenes account of how his NFL Combine experience went prior to...
Ryan Leaf: My NFL Downfall Began at the 1998 NFL Combine / Ryan Leaf reveals his behind-the-scenes account of how his NFL Combine experience went prior to the 1998 NFL Draft and why things went terribly wrong from that point on.
On December 22, 1980, the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw and coached by...
1980 NFL Week 16 • Pittsburgh Steelers vs San Diego Chargers - Radio Broadcast / On December 22, 1980, the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw and coached by Chuck Noll, faced the San Diego Chargers, directed by coach Don Coryell with quarterback Dan Fouts at the helm. The game took place at Jack Murphy Stadium as part of the NFL's regular season schedule. Coming into this game, both teams were already shaping their seasons, with the Steelers looking to maintain competitiveness despite challenges and the Chargers seeking to assert their dominance in the AFC. This season was particularly notable for the implementation of the "Air Coryell" offense, which had begun to revolutionize passing strategies in the NFL.
During the game, the Steelers and Chargers both demonstrated strategic plays with San Diego gradually building a lead. Key performances included Rolf Benirschke’s consistent field goals contributing significantly to the Chargers' score. For Pittsburgh, Sidney Thornton and Bennie Cunningham provided crucial touchdowns that kept the Steelers in contention. Dan Fouts for the Chargers and Terry Bradshaw for the Steelers showcased their prowess, with Fouts throwing for over 300 yards and Bradshaw connecting critical passes, including a touchdown.
Ultimately, the Chargers outlasted the Steelers with a final score of 26-17, which shaped the postseason narratives for both teams. The Chargers improved their record to reflect a strong finish in the regular season, heading into the playoffs with momentum, while the Steelers adjusted to a season that did not meet their historical championship calibers.