The Chargers have fielded a number of strong teams over their history in San Diego and Los Angeles, though a Super Bowl title has remained out of reach. While the team enjoyed dominant runs—particularly through the 2000s—their postseason success often fell short, sometimes overshadowed by opponents such as Tom Brady and the current Kansas City Chiefs.
A retrospective ranks the ten greatest Chargers squads from across different eras. The list includes an honorable mention for seasons like 1979, 1982 (a strike-shortened year with standout performances from Dan Fouts), 1992, and 2013.
At No. 10 is the 1963 Chargers team, recognized despite playing in the AFL rather than the NFL at that time. Led by Tobin Rote and Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Lance Alworth, this group finished atop the AFL West before defeating Boston in the AFL Championship with an overwhelming score of 51-10. Eleven players received All-AFL honors on that squad.
The rankings highlight notable modern teams including those led by LaDainian Tomlinson during his record-setting tenure. The No. 1 spot goes to the 2006 Chargers who finished with a league-best regular season record (14-2), had six All-Pro selections and eleven Pro Bowlers, but lost to New England in a divisional playoff game—a loss described as “the biggest failure in franchise history.”
Other memorable seasons listed include:
– The Philip Rivers-led 2018 team (No. 7) which posted a strong regular season but was again defeated by New England in postseason play.
– The Don Coryell-coached squads of 1980 (No. 6) and 1981 (No. 3), which featured prolific passing attacks guided by quarterback Dan Fouts.
– The only Super Bowl appearance for the franchise came from the 1994 roster (No. 2); they were defeated by San Francisco after finishing an impressive playoff run.
Throughout its history, multiple key players are highlighted: Drew Brees’ departure ahead of Rivers’ promotion to starter; Antonio Gates’ contributions; running back Darren Sproles stepping up due to injuries during postseason play; Junior Seau’s defensive leadership; and several instances when missed opportunities—including critical field goals—ended promising campaigns.
Despite numerous playoff appearances and division titles especially during stretches under head coaches Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner, sustained postseason success has been elusive for this organization.
LaDainian Tomlinson’s individual achievements remain among the most significant moments in team history—he broke NFL records for rushing touchdowns (26) and total touchdowns scored (31) during that top-ranked campaign.
While recognition for past excellence continues to spark discussion among fans, winning football’s ultimate prize remains an unfulfilled goal for one of California’s longest-standing franchises.
