The Los Angeles Chargers (formerly the San Diego Chargers) are one of the remaining NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl. Since being formed in 1960 in the AFL, they have had 15 division titles, four AFC Championship appearances, and made the Super Bowl just once. While that is not a whole lot of success in that many years, they still have some pretty good players over the years; even a few players who are among the all-time best at their respective positions. Here are the franchise’s greatest players at each position.
Los Angeles Chargers All-Franchise Team
Head Coach: Don Coryell (1978-1986)
While the Chargers’ period of success under Don Coryell was relatively short-lived, he still gave the Chargers one of their best eras, and also managed to change what passing offense looked like thanks to the “Air Coryell” offense. At the time, no other offense could really contend. It was really only defensive struggles that caused the Coryell era to end as quickly as it did. During his tenure, the Chargers won three straight division titles (1979-1981), made two straight AFC Championship appearances (1980-1981), and made another playoff appearance in the 1982 strike-shortened season. They lead the league in total yards on offense five times. He also helped revolutionize the tight end position, actually utilizing them as pass catchers. Kellen Winslow was one of the very first of his kind. Though Coryell ultimately never won a title, football would not look the same today without him.
Offense
Quarterback: Philip Rivers (2004-present)
Choosing between Philip Rivers and Dan Fouts is not altogether easy. However, Fouts’ prime did not last as long as Rivers’ has. Not only that, but Rivers tops Fouts in most categories. Rivers has 342 career touchdown passes, currently good for sixth all time. He holds Chargers franchise records in categories such as wins (106), passing yards (50,348), and passing touchdowns. He has had seven Pro Bowl appearances, was tied for most passing touchdowns in the league in 2008, was the league passing yardage leader in 2010, and led the league in completion percentage in 2013. The only common criticism of Rivers is that he has not won a title. But his career’s not over yet. Even if he doesn’t get a title, he still may have a shot at the Hall of Fame when it’s all said and done—particularly if he manages to make the “400 touchdown passes club.”
Running Back: LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-2009)
This is the easiest pick of the all-franchise Chargers roster. Not only is LaDainian Tomlinson unquestionably the best Chargers running back ever, he is also one of the greatest backs of all time. Even when the Chargers were struggling early in his career, they were still threats to win games because of him. He currently holds the record for most touchdowns from scrimmage in a single season with 31, which he accomplished in 2006. That led to him winning MVP honors that season. During his career with the Chargers, he racked up 12,490 rushing yards and 138 rushing touchdowns (155 total). He made the Pro Bowl five times (2002, 2004-2007) and was the league’s rushing leader twice. In his overall career, he has the sixth most rushing yards of any running back. Tomlinson, recently elected to the Hall of Fame, is easily one of the most prolific Chargers players ever.
Wide Receiver: Lance Alworth (1962-1970)
Lance Alworth‘s career came mostly during the Chargers’ AFL days. By the time the merger with the NFL happened, his prime years were behind him, and he’s been slightly forgotten as a result. But he was one of the most dominant players of the AFL era. From 1963 to 1969, he consistently put up excellent numbers. He had a 1,602-yard season in 1965 back when seasons only had 14 games. Even today, he is currently tied with Calvin Johnson for most career games with 200+ receiving yards. He had seven All-Star bids in the AFL and helped the Chargers win an AFL Championship in 1963 as well (their only title championship to this day). One must wonder what kind of numbers he would have put up in a 16-game season when he was in his prime.
Wide Receiver: Charlie Joiner (1976-1986)
Charlie Joiner was one of the go-to receivers of the “Air Coryell” era. It turned out that Coryell was just what he needed. He’d been in the league several years but had never been remarkable (save for one 200-yard game with the Cincinnati Bengals). As a member of the Chargers, he picked up three Pro Bowl bids (1976, 1979, 1980). He was known in part for his durability, only missing two games during his entire Chargers career. Now a member of the Hall of Fame, Joiner was a big part of the Chargers’ success in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Wide Receiver: Wes Chandler (1981-1987)
Wes Chandler is another somewhat forgotten receiver whose prime was short-lived, but he had a few dominant years; enough to get him into the Chargers Hall of Fame. He was traded to the Chargers from the New Orleans Saints after they were forced to get rid of John Jefferson due to a contract dispute. During his Chargers career, he had three Pro Bowl bids (1982, 1983, 1985). The strike-shortened season of 1982 was easily the best of his career, in which he put up 1,032 receiving yards in just eight games. That averages out to 129 receiving yards per game, which is still an NFL record to this day. He went on to have a few more good seasons, but that achievement alone helps him get a spot on this list.
Tight End: Antonio Gates (2003-2017)
It feels like kind of a travesty to not include Winslow here, but Antonio Gates has cemented his place as one of, if not the greatest ever at his position. Undrafted in 2003, he exploded onto the scene the very next year. While his connection with former starter Drew Brees was still prolific, it was his rapport with Rivers that became more famous. Rivers and Gates currently hold the record for most touchdown passes from one quarterback to a tight end (85). He has had eight Pro Bowl bids (2004-2011). In 2017 he passed Tony Gonzalez for the most touchdowns of any player at the position, currently with 114. A Hall of Fame bid in the future is all but guaranteed.
Left Tackle: Ernie Wright (1960-1967, 1972)
The Chargers have not had a lot of great left tackles in their history, but Ernie Wright managed to earn his place in team lore to a degree. He was the tackle opposite Ron Mix in the AFL days, who will be featured on this list later. That tandem helped (among other things) to lead the Chargers to their AFL Championship in 1963. In his career, Wright had three AFL All-Star bids (1961, 1963, 1965). While he is not in any Hall of Fame, he did make the Chargers 50th Anniversary Team in 2009.
Left Guard: Doug Wilkerson (1971-1984)
Doug Wilkerson was pretty quiet most of his career. But down the stretch, he was one of the guards of the “Air Coryell” era and found success during that time. He had three Pro Bowl bids (1980-1982). It was enough to land him in the Chargers Hall of Fame. Not bad for a guy who really only got that much league-wide attention in the later years of his career.
Center: Nick Hardwick (2004-2014)
Nick Hardwick was part of the group of offensive linemen that blocked for Tomlinson, and his efforts did not go totally unnoticed. He only had one Pro Bowl bid in 2006, but he did enough in just five seasons that he was able to get selected to the Chargers 50th Anniversary Team in 2009. While he was somewhat injury-prone, he was quite an excellent center when he was out there on the field. Since his retirement, he has likely been missed by his former quarterback Rivers.
Right Guard: Walt Sweeney (1963-1973)
Walt Sweeney was only a rookie when the Chargers won their AFL Championship in 1963, and he played at a high level for several years afterward. From the AFL years to the first few seasons in the NFL, he earned both Pro Bowl and AFL All-Star bids (1964-1972). He is now in the Chargers Hall of Fame, which seems a given; making the AFL All-Star Game/Pro Bowl nine years in a row is nothing to sneeze at.
Right Tackle: Ron Mix (1960-1969)
One of the original picks of the first AFL draft, Ron Mix is probably not quite as well remembered now. However, he was one of the best at his position during his time. He got AFL All-Star bids in eight straight years (1961-1968) and was only called for two holding penalties in 10 years. He also helped the Chargers to their lone AFL Championship. Now he is in the Hall of Fame and was unanimously voted to the AFL All-Time Team.
Defense (3-4 Alignment)
Defensive End: Fred Dean (1975-1981)
Fred Dean is an interesting player in that he is in two different team’s Halls of Fame. While he started his career with the Chargers and made it to their HOF, he was eventually traded to the San Francisco 49ers. That was a mistake. He went on to get two Super Bowl rings with the Niners, and he is now in their HOF as well. While he was on the Chargers, he made three Pro Bowls (1979-1981). While the “Air Coryell” era was generally not known for good defense, it was different when Dean was around. After he left, the Chargers did not have a defense ranked in the top half of the league for years.
Defensive Tackle: Gary Johnson (1975-1984)
Oddly enough, Gary Johnson ended up with the 49ers later in his career as well and won a Super Bowl with them. However, he played the majority of his years with the Chargers and gave them his best years as well. Nicknamed “Big Hands,” his career got off to a good start when he was named to the All-Rookie team in 1975. He went on to have four Pro Bowl appearances (1979-1982). Evidently, he was also a big part of the successful defense that Dean helped lead during the “Air Coryell” years. He is now in the Chargers Hall of Fame.
Defensive End: Leslie O’Neal (1986-1995)
It may seem surprising that no one has been mentioned yet that played in the Chargers’ lone Super Bowl appearance in 1994. Leslie O’Neal did play on that team and is a pretty underrated player overall. He is the Chargers career sacks leader (105.5) and is tied for 13th on the all-time sacks list with 132.5 (keep in mind that they weren’t tracking sacks as a statistic until 1982). O’Neal is also the highest-ranking member on the career sacks list who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in it. (He is in the Chargers Hall of Fame, though.) One has to wonder how much many more sacks he would have gotten if he hadn’t missed almost two seasons early in his career due to a knee injury.
Outside Linebacker: Woodrow Lowe (1976-1986)
Woodrow Lowe was a unique linebacker for his time. While he was good enough in normal areas of sacking and run defense, he was also surprisingly good at pass defense. He had 21 career interceptions, four of which were pick-sixes. He also only missed one game in his 11 years with the Chargers, where he remained for his entire career. It’s a little surprising he hasn’t gotten into the Chargers Hall of Fame yet, but maybe it will happen one of these days.
Inside Linebacker: Junior Seau (1990-2002)
One of the most easily recognizable Chargers player names ever, Junior Seau is one of the few players in team history to have his jersey number retired. That happened with good reason. Except for his rookie season, Seau made the Pro Bowl every year with the Chargers. Most notably, he was selected as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992. He was posthumously put in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2015. Definitely one of the more legendary Chargers players.
Inside Linebacker: Chuck Allen (1961-1969)
Much like Lowe, Chuck Allen was also a bit of a ball hawk in pass defense. His days came during the Chargers’ AFL years. He managed to get 28 interceptions in his career. He was another member of the 1963 Chargers that won the AFL Championship, and he was an AFL All-Star twice (1963-1964). Like many members of that AFL bunch, he’s been kind of forgotten. However, he is in the Chargers Hall of Fame; his efforts did not go totally unnoticed.
Outside Linebacker: Shawne Merriman (2005-2010)
Shawne Merriman‘s prime did not last very long due to injuries. But early on in his career, he was a terror on the field. He quickly made an impact when he was drafted by becoming the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005. The following year, he led the league in sacks with 17 despite missing four games. He made the Pro Bowl three straight years (2005-2007) but was never the same after tearing up his knee in 2008. That said, he was insanely dominant early on, even if for a short time. It’s enough to earn him a spot on this list.
Cornerback: Gill Byrd (1983-1992)
The Chargers have not had a lot of great cornerbacks in their history. Depending upon how well their current starting corner Casey Hayward continues to do, he could make this list a few years from now. Gill Byrd still was pretty good, though. While most of his better years came down the stretch, he still hauled in 42 career interceptions with the Chargers which remains a franchise record. A two-time Pro Bowlers (1991, 1992), Byrd retired while he was still arguably at the top of his game. Still, he contributed enough to the Chargers over the years that he is now in their Hall of Fame.
Cornerback: Charlie McNeil (1960-1964)
Charlie McNeil did not play football very long, only playing in the AFL for five years. However, he does have one remarkable accomplishment in his career. He holds the record for most interception yards in a single game with 177 in 1961, one that has yet to be broken. He held the record for most interception yards in a season for almost 45 years too, with 349 in that same season. That season (which saw him pull down nine interceptions) propelled him to an AFL All-Star berth. While he never had another spectacular season again like that due in part to injuries, it was enough to get him on the Chargers 50th Anniversary Team. If he had stayed healthy, he could have had an excellent career.
Free Safety: Eric Weddle (2007-2015)
Eric Weddle is one of those players that the Chargers have let go too easily in free agency. They never had another free safety as good as him before. He played quite serviceably his first few years before breaking out in 2011. That season saw him lead the league with seven interceptions and establish himself as one of the best safeties in the league. Those numbers gave him the first of his three Pro Bowl berths with the Chargers (2011, 2013-2014). As previously stated, he was let go all too soon by the Chargers.
Strong Safety: Rodney Harrison (1994-2002)
Rodney Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, but most of his prime came with the Chargers. Oddly enough, he was drafted during the season of their Super Bowl run. He hardly contributed at all that year but did so much more later on. In his career, he picked up two Pro Bowl berths (1998, 2001). While he was good at pulling down interceptions, he was also surprisingly good at getting sacks. He is one of only two players with over 30 career interceptions *and* sacks. The other is Ray Lewis. While Harrison isn’t necessarily an all-time great, that’s still an impressive accomplishment.
Special Teams
Kicker: Nate Kaeding (2004-2012)
Nate Kaeding is kind of both famous and infamous for the Chargers. On the one hand, he was a two-time Pro Bowl kicker (2006, 2009) and retired with the second-best kicking percentage in NFL history at 86.2 percent (now he is down to seventh). On the other, he had a tendency to choke in the playoffs. Fans will likely remember that Marlon McCree wasn’t the only person directly responsible for the Chargers going one and done in the playoffs after a 14-2 season in 2006. That said, his regular season accomplishments are still undeniable, and his placement on the all-time accuracy list (which does not account for playoff performance) earns him the spot here.
Punter: Mike Scifres (2003-2015)
Ever hear of a punter being critical to winning a playoff game? It actually happened once, and Mike Scifres was that punter. In a Wild Card game following the 2008 season against the Indianapolis Colts, he punted six times and averaged 51.7 yards per punt – pinning the Colts inside the 20-yard line every time and four times inside their 10-yard line. The final one ended up at the Colts’ one-yard line. Aside from that remarkable game, he does have the best yards per punt average in franchise history with 45.2.
Return Man: Darren Sproles (2005-2010)
Darren Sproles is well-known for his accomplishments in general in the league. As a Charger, he holds the franchise record for most kickoff return yards (6,469). He is also well remembered for the time in 2007 that he returned both a kickoff and punt for a touchdown – in the same game. Not a common achievement. Also, those were his first two career touchdowns. Way to put the league on notice with that game. While he didn’t have a game like that again as a returner, he was no fluke either.
