Established
1960
City
Los Angeles - San Diego - Los Angeles
League History
1970 - Present / National Football League
1960 - 1970 / American Football League
Team History
2017 - Present / Los Angeles Chargers
1961 - 2016 / San Diego Chargers
1960 / Los Angeles Chargers
Nickname
Chargers - The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American National Football League (NFL) football team. The franchise was founded in 1959 and is based in Costa Mesa, California. As one of the oldest teams in the league, they have had many memorable moments throughout their history. One thing that has remained constant since its inception is its nickname: “Chargers.” But how did this name come to be?
It all started when Barron Hilton, who owned an AFL team and a hotel chain, merged his two businesses by naming his new AFL franchise after his hotel brand – The Charger Hotel Chain. It didn't take long for people to start calling them "the Chargers" because it was an accessible name to remember! Nowadays, you'll see fans proudly wearing jerseys with lightning bolts on them or cheering loudly as they chant "Charge!" during games - all evidence of how deeply rooted this unique moniker has become within sports culture over time.
As if having such a cool nickname wasn't enough already, there's even more meaning behind it than meets the eye! According to some historians and experts alike, the term ‘charger’ actually originates from medieval times when knights would ride into battle atop large horses called chargers, which were known for being bravely courageous animals used for combat purposes only - so much so that 'charging' became synonymous with strength & courage itself! This makes perfect sense considering how strong & determined NFL players must be while competing on Sundays every week during football season!
Overall, The Los Angeles Chargers possesses one of the most recognizable nicknames in all professional sports, but it also carries along with it centuries' worth of rich history steeped deep within its roots, making it truly special indeed!
Championship
Super Bowl 0
AFL Championships 0
1963
Stadium
2020 - Present / SoFi Stadium
2018 - 2019 / Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park (during construction)
2019 / Dignity Health Sports Park
2017 - 2018 / StubHub Center
*San Diego*
1998 - 2016 / Qualcomm Stadium
1981 - 1997 / Jack Murphy Stadium
1967 - 1980 / San Diego Stadium
1961 - 1966 / Balboa Stadium
*Los Angeles*
1960 / Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Owner
1994 - Present / Dean Spanos
1984 - 1993 / Alex Spanos
1966 - 1984 / Gene Klein and Sam Schulman
1960 - 1966 / Barron Hilton
- 1960
- 2017
-
Los Angeles Chargers Team Formation
The San Diego Chargers were established with seven other American Football League teams in 1959. In 1960, the Chargers began AFL play in Los Angeles. The Chargers’ original owner was hotel heir Barron Hilton, son of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton. According to the official site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Barron Hilton agreed after his general manager, ... -
No Stadium – Move back to Los Angeles
Spanos announced the relocation in a letter to Chargers fans posted to the team’s official site on January 12, 2017. Revealing a new marketing logo with the announcement, the team will play as the Los Angeles Chargers starting in the 2017 season at StubHub Center in Carson, California, despite the fact that the stadium seats well below the 50,000 minimum ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers, formerly known as the San Diego Chargers, have a long and storied history in the NFL. From their beginnings as an AFL team in 1960 to their move to Los Angeles in 2017, the Chargers have always been among the most exciting teams on the field.
The San Diego-based franchise was founded by Barron Hilton, who wanted to bring professional football back to Southern California after it had been absent since 1950 when both LA's Rams and Dons left town. The inaugural season saw them play at Balboa Stadium before moving into Qualcomm Stadium (now SDCCU) for more than four decades until they moved north up Interstate 5 following a vote of approval from league owners that allowed them to relocate during the 2016’s offseason.
In addition, they also won two AFL championships while playing out of San Diego—the first coming against the Boston Patriots with Jack Kemp under center—and reached five AFC championship games without ever winning a Super Bowl title despite having some great players like Dan Fouts, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates throughout their time there as well as Hall-of-Famers Lance Alworth and Junior Seau representing them on defense or special teams units respectively over multiple eras spanning almost 60 years total now.
After finally settling into StubHub Center (which is now Dignity Health Sports Park), the Los Angeles Chargers, previously known as the San Diego Chargers, were able to bring Anthony Lynn to lead his squad back towards relevancy within just 2 seasons after inheriting what seemed like an impossible task due largely thanks to key acquisitions such as Melvin Gordon III, Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen & Derwin James Jr., all who helped form a formidable core group capable of making deep postseason runs. This culminated in a 2019 Wild Card Round win over the Baltimore Ravens where rookie quarterback Justin Herbert made his debut, replacing the injured Tyrod Taylor late in the second quarter, ultimately leading to a Los Angeles Chargers comeback victory, sealing a spot in the playoffs. The 2020 season, unfortunately, never came to fruition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, canceling the entire year and forcing the organization to start anew in the 2021 season, hoping to find some success achieved in the previous campaign amidst the uncertainty still looming large across the sports world today.
Sports Fan Products
Remembering Antonio Gates: An NFL Player's Dreams!
Join us on a nostalgic journey as we remember the remarkable story of Antonio Gates, an NFL player whose dreams came to life. In this heartwarming tribute made with Clipchamp, we celebrate his journey, triumphs, and the indelible mark he left on the game. From humble beginnings to gridiron glory, Antonio Gates' story is one of perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of excellence. Get ready to be inspired!
LA Chargers FANS Want to Know Their Mount Rushmore!
Join us as we dive into the passionate world of LA Chargers fans and explore who they believe deserves a spot on their very own Mount Rushmore! This video features a lively discussion about the franchise's most iconic players, memorable moments, and these legends' impact on the team and its loyal fanbase
Retired Number
14 / Dan Fouts
19 / Lance Alworth
21 / LaDainian Tomlinson
55 / Junior Seau
*Blue is this team’s history