My All Time Favorite San Diego Chargers Players

The San Diego Chargers have one of the most star-crossed histories in the NFL. This isn’t for a lack of great players. The Chargers have had some of the best players of all time on their roster. When the Chargers have been great, the players have been some of the best in franchise history. But for one reason or another, the Chargers haven’t been able to breakthrough and win a Super Bowl. The Chargers are known for having some of the best offensive teams in football. When the best players in Chargers history are high flying like Dan Fouts, LaDainian Tomlinson, Lance Alworth, Kellen Winslow and Charlie Joiner, then offense is clearly a priority.  On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers have had some of the best defensive players as well. Junior Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowler and one of the best linebackers ever.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Dan Fouts

 

Drew Brees

 

Philip Rivers

 

RUNNING BACKS

LaDanian Tomlinson

 

Paul Lowe

 

Chuck Muncie

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Lance Alworth

 

Charlie Joiner

 

Gary Garrison

 

TIGHT ENDS

Kellen Winslow

 

Antonio Gates

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Russ Washington

 

Doug Wilkerson

 

OC – Don Macek (1976-1989)

OG – Walt Sweeney (1963-1973)

Ron Mix

 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Leslie O’Neal

 

Gary Johnson

 

Louie Kelcher

 

Fred Dean

Position:  Defensive End #71
Height:  6’3″          Weight:  230 lbs
Born:  February 24, 1952 in Arcadia Louisiana
College:  Louisiana Tech
Drafted:  San Diego Chargers picked in the 2nd Round (33rd Overall) in 1975 Draft
Career:  1975 – 1985 – San Diego Chargers (1975-1981), San Francisco 49ers (1981-1985)
Highlights:  4 time Pro Bowler, 2 time First Team All Pro and inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008.  Fred Dean played in 141 games during his 12 year career and recorded 28 sacks, 1 interception returned 22 yards for a touchdown and 13 fumble recoveries with 1 for a touchdown.

LINEBACKERS

Junior Seau

 

Shawne Merriman

 

LB – Woodrow Lowe (1976-1986)

Billy Ray Smith

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Gill Byrd

 

CB – Speedy Duncan (1964-1970)

DB – Dick Harris (1960-1965)

DB – Charlie McNeil (1960-1964)

Rodney Harrison

 

S – Charlie McNeil (1960-1964)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – John Carney (1990-2000)

Rolf Benerschke

P – Darren Bennett (1995-2003)

PR – Gary Anderson

 

KR – Lionel James

 

NICKNAME

• Barron Hilton picked the Chargers name when he purchased an AFL franchise for Los Angeles. “I liked it because they were yelling ‘charge’ and sounding the bugle at Dodgers Stadium and at USC games.”

TEAM NAMES

• Los Angeles Chargers (1960)
• San Diego Chargers (1961-Present)

HEAD COACHES

• Sid Gillman (1961-1969)
• Charlie Waller (1969-1970)
• Sid Gillman (1971)
• Harland Svare (1971-1973)
• Ron Waller (1973)
• Tommy Prothro (1974-1978)
• Don Coryell (1978-1986)
• Al Saunders (1986-1988)
• Dan Henning (1989-1991)
• Bobby Ross (1992-1996)
• Kevin Gilbride (1997-1998)
• June Jones (1998)
• Mike Riley (1999-2001)
• Marty Schottenheimer (2002-2006)
• Norv Turner (2007-2012)
• Mike McCoy (2013-2016)
• Anthony Lynn (2017-Present)

SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS

• None

AFL CHAMPIONS (PRE-1966)

• 1963

SUPER BOWL APPEARANCES

• Super Bowl XXIX (1994) – San Diego Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers

AFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES (PRE-1966)

• 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965

AFL/AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

• 1980, 1981, 1994, 2007

DIVISION CHAMPIONS

• 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

• 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

PLAYOFF RECORD

• 11-17 .393

HALL OF FAME PLAYERS

• Lance Alworth WR (1962-1970)
• Fred Dean DE (1975-1981)
• Dan Fouts QB (1973-1987)
• Sid Gillman Coach (1961-1969, 1971)
• Charlie Joiner WR (1976-1986)
• Deacon Jones DE (1972-1973)
• Larry Little G (1967-1968)
• John Mackey TE (1972)
• Ron Mix OT (1961-1969)
• Johnny Unitas QB (1973)
• Kellen Winslow TE (1979-1987)

RETIRED NUMBERS

• 14 Dan Fouts QB (1973-1987)
• 19 Lance Alworth WR (1962-1970)
• 55 Junior Seau LB (1990-2009)

PRO BOWL MVP

• 1963 Earl Faison DE
• 1964 Keith Lincoln RB
• 1965 Keith Lincoln RB
• 1966 Frank Buncom LB
• 1968 Speedy Duncan CB
• 1970 John Hadl QB
• 1982 Kellen Winslow TE
• 1983 Dan Fouts QB

AWARDS

COACH OF THE YEAR

• 2004 Marty Schottenheimer

AFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• 1961 Earl Faison DE

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• 2005 Shawne Merriman LB

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• 1974 Don Woods RB

AFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 1963 Lance Alworth WR
• 1965 Paul Lowe RB

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• None

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 1982 Dan Fouts QB
• 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson RB

NFL MVP

• 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson RB

SUPER BOWL MVP

• None

 

©MMXIX My All Time Favorites, all pictures and logos, team names are property of the National Football League. This site is not affiliated with the NFL or San Diego Chargers.  All Football Cards are low resolution scans from a personal collection and each is credited with the production company name and year.  This site is maintained for research purposes only.