List of Los Angeles Chargers seasons

The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football franchise based in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The club was founded in 1959 by Barron Hilton and played the 1960 season in Los Angeles as part of the American Football League (AFL).[1] In the next season, the Chargers moved to San Diego.[2] In 2017, the Chargers relocated back to the Los Angeles area.[3]

Qualcomm Stadium, where the Chargers played their home games from 1967 to 2016.

The franchise has experienced three major periods of success. The first was from 1960 to 1965, when the Chargers were AFL West champions five times and AFL champions once (in 1963).[4] The second was from 1978 to 1982, when the Chargers had five consecutive winning records, four playoff appearances and three division championships.[5] The most recent spell of sustained success ranged from 2004 to 2009, with the franchise reaching the playoffs five times in six years, each time as the AFC West champion.[6] This run included their best regular season record, as they went 14–2 in 2006.[7] Their only Super Bowl appearance was in 1994 (a loss to the San Francisco 49ers)[8]

The Chargers have also experienced three notable periods of decline. For the thirteen seasons between 1965 and 1977 the Chargers never reached the postseason; they failed to post a winning record through their first eight years in the NFL (1970–77) and finished last in their division for four consecutive years from 1972 to 1975.[9] From 1983 to 1991, they never placed higher than third in their division and did not make the playoffs.[7] From 1996 to 2003, the team had no winning seasons, and posted their worst record to date, going 1–15 in 2000.[7]

The Chargers have been division champions fourteen times: five in the AFL West and nine in the AFC West. As of the end of the 2023 season, the Chargers have played 64 seasons, with a cumulative record of 483–489–11 in the regular season and 12–19 in the postseason.[7]

Seasons

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Table legend
AFL champions (1960–1969) † Conference champions * Division champions ^ Wild card berth #
Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers seasonal records
Season Team League[7] Conference Division Regular season[7] Postseason results[10] Awards[a] Head coaches[11]
Finish W L T
Los Angeles Chargers
1960 1960 AFL West^ 1st^ 10 4 0 Lost AFL Championship (at Oilers) 16–24 Sid Gillman
San Diego Chargers
1961 1961 AFL West^ 1st^ 12 2 0 Lost AFL Championship (Oilers) 3–10 Earl Faison (ROY)[12] Sid Gillman
1962 1962 AFL West 3rd 4 10 0
1963 1963 AFL West^ 1st^ 11 3 0 Won AFL Championship (1) (Patriots) 51–10 Tobin Rote (MVP)[13]
1964 1964 AFL West^ 1st^ 8 5 1 Lost AFL Championship (at Bills) 7–20
1965 1965 AFL West^ 1st^ 9 2 3 Lost AFL Championship (Bills) 0–23
1966 1966 AFL West 3rd 7 6 1
1967 1967 AFL West 3rd 8 5 1 Dickie Post (OROY)[14]
1968 1968 AFL West 3rd 9 5 0
1969 1969 AFL West 3rd 8 6 0 Sid Gillman (4–5)
Charlie Waller (4–1)
1970 1970 NFL AFC West 3rd 5 6 3 Charlie Waller
1971 1971 NFL AFC West 3rd 6 8 0 Sid Gillman (4–6)
Harland Svare (2–2)
1972 1972 NFL AFC West 4th 4 9 1 Harland Svare
1973 1973 NFL AFC West 4th 2 11 1 Harland Svare (1–6–1)
Ron Waller (1–5)
1974 1974 NFL AFC West 4th 5 9 0 Don Woods (OROY)[15] Tommy Prothro
1975 1975 NFL AFC West 4th 2 12 0
1976 1976 NFL AFC West 3rd 6 8 0
1977 1977 NFL AFC West 3rd 7 7 0
1978 1978 NFL AFC West 3rd 9 7 0 Tommy Prothro (1–3)
Don Coryell (8–4)
1979 1979 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 12 4 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 14–17 Don Coryell
1980 1980 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 11 5 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 20–14
Lost AFC Championship (Raiders) 27–34
1981 1981 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 10 6 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 41–38 (OT)[E]
Lost AFC Championship (at Bengals)[F] 7–27
1982[b] 1982 NFL AFC 6th# 6 3 0 Won First Round Playoffs (at Steelers) 31–28
Lost Second Round Playoffs (at Dolphins) 13–34
Dan Fouts (OPOY)[17]
1983 1983 NFL AFC West 5th 6 10 0
1984 1984 NFL AFC West 5th 7 9 0
1985 1985 NFL AFC West 3rd 8 8 0
1986 1986 NFL AFC West 5th 4 12 0 Leslie O'Neal (DROY)[18] Don Coryell (1–7)
Al Saunders (3–5)
1987[c] 1987 NFL AFC West 3rd 8 7 0 Al Saunders
1988 1988 NFL AFC West 4th 6 10 0
1989 1989 NFL AFC West 5th 6 10 0 Dan Henning
1990 1990 NFL AFC West 4th 6 10 0
1991 1991 NFL AFC West 5th 4 12 0
1992 1992 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 11 5 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 17–0
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 0–31
Bobby Ross
1993 1993 NFL AFC West 4th 8 8 0
1994 1994 NFL AFC* West^ 1st^ 11 5 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 22–21
Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 17–13
Lost Super Bowl XXIX (vs. 49ers) 26–49
1995 1995 NFL AFC West 2nd# 9 7 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 20–35
1996 1996 NFL AFC West 3rd 8 8 0
1997 1997 NFL AFC West 5th 4 12 0 Kevin Gilbride
1998 1998 NFL AFC West 5th 5 11 0 Kevin Gilbride (2–4)
June Jones (3–7)
1999 1999 NFL AFC West 4th 8 8 0 Mike Riley
2000 2000 NFL AFC West 5th 1 15 0
2001 2001 NFL AFC West 5th 5 11 0
2002 2002 NFL AFC West 3rd 8 8 0 Marty Schottenheimer
2003 2003 NFL AFC West 4th 4 12 0
2004 2004 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 12 4 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 17–20 (OT) Marty Schottenheimer (COY)[20]
Drew Brees (CBPOY)[21]
2005 2005 NFL AFC West 3rd 9 7 0 Shawne Merriman (DROY)[18]
2006 2006 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 14 2 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 21–24 LaDainian Tomlinson (MVP, OPOY)[22][17]
2007 2007 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 11 5 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Titans) 17–6
Won Divisional Playoffs (at Colts) 28–24
Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 12–21
Norv Turner
2008 2008 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 8 8 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 23–17 (OT)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 24–35
2009 2009 NFL AFC West^ 1st^ 13 3 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 14–17
2010 2010 NFL AFC West 2nd 9 7 0
2011 2011 NFL AFC West 2nd 8 8 0
2012 2012 NFL AFC West 2nd 7 9 0
2013 2013 NFL AFC West 3rd# 9 7 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Bengals) 27–10
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 17–24
Philip Rivers (CBPOY)[21] Mike McCoy
2014 2014 NFL AFC West 3rd 9 7 0
2015 2015 NFL AFC West 4th 4 12 0
2016 2016 NFL AFC West 4th 5 11 0 Joey Bosa (DROY)[18]
Los Angeles Chargers
2017 2017 NFL AFC West 2nd 9 7 0 Keenan Allen (CBPOY)[21] Anthony Lynn
2018 2018 NFL AFC West 2nd# 12 4 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Ravens) 23–17
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 28–41
2019 2019 NFL AFC West 4th 5 11 0
2020 2020 NFL AFC West 3rd 7 9 0 Justin Herbert (OROY)[15]
2021 2021 NFL AFC West 3rd 9 8 0 Brandon Staley
2022 2022 NFL AFC West 2nd# 10 7 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Jaguars) 30–31
2023 2023 NFL AFC West 4th 5 12 0 Brandon Staley (5–9)
Giff Smith (0–3)
Totals
1 AFL Championship
1 AFC Conference Championship
15 Division titles
483 489 11 (1960–2023, Regular season only)
12 19 (1960–2023, Postseason games only)
495 508 11 (1960–2023, Total for all games)

Notes

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  1. ^ Only Associated Press (AP) awards are included
  2. ^ The 1982 season was reduced to nine games by a players strike; instead of standard divisional play, the AFC teams were placed together in one fourteen-team division.[16]
  3. ^ The 1987 season was reduced to nine games by a players strike.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Grid league ready for losses". Racine Journal Times. AP. p. 17.
  2. ^ "Chronology". chargers.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  3. ^ Knoblauch, Austin (January 12, 2017). "Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. ^ "Chargers fly high---and Lowe, 37–26". Los Angeles Times. UPI. December 13, 1965. p. III-8. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Last minute factors". Scranton Times-Tribune. January 9, 1983. p. C-7. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Martin, Kimberley A. (January 12, 2010). "Tall order for Jets' defense". New York Newsday. p. A46. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "San Diego Chargers Franchise Encyclopedia". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  8. ^ "Charger fans find solace in season". Bridgewater Courier-News. AP. January 30, 1994. p. C-2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Lowitt, Bruce (December 24, 1979). "Oilers, Eagles pass first tests". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B-1. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers playoff history". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers coaches". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "AP AFL Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "AP AFL Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "AP AFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Tentative agreement reached; NFL to resume play Sunday with nine-week abbreviated season". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. AP. February 5, 1982. p. 1B. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "AP Offensive Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "AP Defensive Rookie of the Year". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  19. ^ Posner, Jay (October 20, 1987). "First-place team tries out driver's seat". Escondido Times-Advocate. p. D2. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "AP Coach of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "AP Comeback Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "AP NFL Most Valuable Player Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.