Facts and information about the San Diego Chargers

• The San Diego Chargers played in, and lost to Houston, the first AFL Championship game on New Year’s Day, 1961.

• After the Chargers won the AFL Championship game in 1963 by a score of 51-10, Head Coach Sid Gillman approached then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and suggested a championship game between his Chargers and the NFL’s champion Chicago Bears; Rozelle turned him down.

• Though choosing to play for the San Diego Chargers of the AFL, Wide Receiver and Hall-of-Famer Lance Alworth had also been drafted by the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.

• Former Head Coach Don Coryell was the first coach to win more than 100 games at both the collegiate and professional levels.

• Former Charger superstar Tight End Kellen Winslow’s son also plays Tight End in the NFL, currently for the Cleveland Browns.

• Former Head Coach Don Coryell, known for his wide-open aerial attack, played Defensive Back for the University of Washington Husky football team.

• The Chargers were one of the original American Football League teams, founded in 1960.

• Hall-of-Famer Ron Mix was also drafted by the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, he chose to play with the AFL Chargers instead.

• During their first year in the AFL, the Chargers were headquartered in Los Angeles and played as the Los Angeles Chargers.

• The Chargers original owner was Barron Hilton, son of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton.

• After winning the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl, Kansas University Quarterback John Hadl signed his contract with the San Diego Chargers right there on the field after the game.

• Former Charger Defensive Lineman Ernie Ladd also had a career in professional wrestling.

• During their entire ten year stay in the AFL, the Chargers only had one coach, Sid Gillman.

• Hall-of-Famer and Baltimore Colt great, Johnny Unitas finished hiscareer as Quarterback of the San Diego Chargers.

• During the 1979 season, Quarterback Dan Fouts set an NFL record by passing for over 300 yards in four consecutive games.

• Hall-of-fame Tight End Kellen Winslow helped secure a 1982 playoff game in Miami by blocking a field goal.

• During Running Back Marion Butts’ rookie season he set the Chargers record, at the time, for number of rushes in a game at 39.

• In 1992, the Chargers became the first team ever to lose their first four games of the year and still make the playoffs when they finished 11-5.

• Chargers great Wide Receiver Charlie Joiner played 18 seasons in the NFL and made it to the Hall-of-Fame, but only made three Pro-Bowl teams.

• The Chargers drafted Quarterback Eli Manning (brother of Peyton and son of Archie) in 2004, and then traded him for Quarterback Phillip Rivers who the Giants had selected three picks later.

• The Chargers original powder blue jerseys and white helmets with a gold lightning bolt were worn from 1960-1973 when the powder blue jerseys and white helmets were both changed to midnight blue. The original color scheme made a comeback in the mid 2000’s.

• Chargers all-time great Ron Mix played the final year of his career with the Oakland Raiders.

• During only one game have the Chargers worn their navy blue pants with their navy blue jerseys, this was a game in 2003 against the Miami Dolphins that was played in Sun Devil Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals. The game had been relocated due to wildfires in California.

• In 2003, Doug Flutie starting for an injured Drew Brees became the oldest Quarterback (at the age of 41) to ever rush for two touchdowns in one game. He also became the oldest AFC Player of the Week at that point.

• During their ten years in the AFL, the Chargers finished in first place in their division five times.

• Defensive Lineman Deacon Jones, famous for his days with the Rams, finished his career playing for the Chargers and then one final year with the Redskins.

• Hall-of-Fame Wide Receiver Charlie Joiner was the last former AFL player playing in the NFL before he retired following the 1986 season.

• The San Diego Chargers started their Chargers Hall-of-Fame in 1976 and the first four players inducted were three Linebackers; Emil Karas, Frank Buncom, and Bob Laraba, and a Running Back; Jacque McKinnon.

• The Chargers are the first team to play in consecutive league championship games representing different cities. In 1960, the Los Angeles Chargers lost the AFL title game to the Oilers, and in 1961 the San Diego Chargers lost the AFL title game, again to the Oilers.