All-Time Team Interceptions Leader: Junior Seau

Lore & Background

The Chargers were founded in Los Angeles in 1959, and began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). They spent their first season in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego in 1961 to become the San Diego Chargers. The team joined the NFL as a result of the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. In 2017, the Chargers moved back to Los Angeles after 56 seasons in San Diego. The Chargers won the AFL championship in 1963, and reached the AFL playoffs five times and the AFL Championship game four times before joining the NFL. Since then, the Chargers have made 15 trips to the playoffs and made four appearances in the AFC Championship game. In 1994, the Chargers won their first and only AFC championship, and faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX, losing 49–26.

Reader's Guide

The Chargers have nine players and two coaches enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: wide receiver Lance Alworth (1962–1970), defensive end Fred Dean (1975–1981), quarterback Dan Fouts (1973–1987), head coach and general manager Sid Gillman (1960–1969, 1971), wide receiver Charlie Joiner (1976–1986), offensive tackle Ron Mix (1960–1969), tight end Kellen Winslow (1979–1987), middle linebacker Junior Seau (1990–2002), running back LaDainian Tomlinson (2001–2009), head coach Don Coryell (1978–1986), and tight end Antonio Gates (2003–2018).

Did You Know?

• The Chargers have the worst playoff winning percentage with a .364 winning percentage in the postseason.
• According to an article in Forbes, the Los Angeles Chargers were worth 5.1 billion dollars in August 2024, putting them at number 20 on the list of the most valuable NFL teams.
• The Chargers' original owner was hotel heir Barron Hilton, son of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton.