2009 San Diego Chargers

Even as we say “Congratulations” to the New York Jets, who beat the Chargers 17 to 14 to advance to the AFC Conference Championship in the 2010 NFL Playoffs, we want to say a big “Thank you” to the San Diego Chargers, winners of the brutal AFC West Division, for the wonderful season they had!

The San Diego Chargers had an admirable 2008-09 season, winning the AFC West and going deep into the playoffs, and hopes for the 2009-10 season are even higher. The Chargers’ performance was all that more impressive when you consider that star linebacker Shawne Merriman was out for the season due to knee surgery (from which he’s now recovered). For a team with one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Philip Rivers, a stellar running back in LaDanian Tomlinson, a rising star at wide receiver in Vincent Jackson and an elite tight end in Antonio Gates, Super Bowl hopes are not unfounded. Make sure that you catch all the action in person at Qualcomm Stadium with tickets from Coast to Coast!

Some San Diego Chargers history: From 1960 to 1965 the Chargers won five division championships and one league crown in the American Football League (AFL). Wide receiver Lance Alworth set a professional football record by catching at least one pass in 96 consecutive games from 1962 to 1970. During the late 1970s and early 1980s head coach Don Coryell oversaw one of the most explosive offensive units in NFL history. The team was led by quarterback Dan Fouts and wide receiver Charlie Joiner, who both set career team records -- Fouts with 43,040 passing yards and 254 passing touchdowns and Joiner with 586 receptions.

Founded by hotel magnate Barron Hilton, the Los Angeles Chargers were one of six charter members of the AFL in 1960. Although the Chargers won the AFL's Western Division championship that year under head coach Sid Gillman, the franchise posted heavy financial losses and moved to San Diego the following year. A future Hall of Fame member, Gillman steered the club to four more Western Division crowns during the next five years. San Diego lost four of five AFL Championship Games, however, recording its only victory in 1963 over the Boston Patriots. Gillman had three outstanding quarterbacks in his charge: John Hadl, Jack Kemp, and Tobin Rote. He also coached one of the era's finest wide receivers, Lance Alworth, who became the first AFL player to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Alworth posted six 1000-yard seasons in seven years, leading the league in yardage three times. Linebacker Emil Karas and end Earl Faison anchored the league's top-rated defense in 1961 and 1963.

In 1978 Don Coryell was named head coach and Dan Fouts took over as starting quarterback. A year later Fouts captured the first of three consecutive passing titles to lead the Chargers to the first of three straight division crowns. Fouts strung together four consecutive 300-yard games in 1979, establishing a record en route to the first 4000-yard season in NFL history.

In 1987 Fouts retired, ranking behind only Fran Tarkenton in career yards (43,040), completions (3297), and attempts (5604). A nine-season playoff drought followed, during which the club finished as high as third only once. Replacing Fouts became a struggle in itself, as San Diego cycled through four starting quarterbacks from 1988 to 1991. Stan Humphries settled into the job in 1992, leading the Chargers to three playoff appearances in four years under head coach Bobby Ross. Following the 1994 season, San Diego made its first Super Bowl appearance (in Super Bowl XXIX), losing to the San Francisco 49ers, 49-26.