Super Bowl XXIX Appearance

Lore & Background

The Chargers won the AFC West with an 11–5 record and the #2 AFC playoff seed. They went into the final game of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers needing a win to get the #2 seed; starting quarterback Stan Humphries played the entire game, leading the Chargers to a come-from-behind 37–34 win, with John Carney kicking a game-winning field goal in the game's final seconds.

In Their Own Story

The humid air of Joe Robbie Stadium hung heavy over the powder blue jerseys as the clock ticked down on the fourth quarter. Jim Harbaugh stood in the huddle, breath visible despite the Florida heat, eyes scanning a defense that seemed to have already won. The roar of the crowd was a distant ocean, drowning out the snap count. It wasn't just about the points on the board; it was the weight of every missed tackle and every dropped pass echoing through the franchise's history.

Reader's Guide

The Chargers' offense was led by quarterback Stan Humphries, who completed 264 out of 453 attempts for 3,209 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running back Natrone Means led the team in rushing with 1,350 yards and 12 touchdowns. The defense was anchored by Pro Bowl defensive end Leslie O'Neal (12.5 sacks), defensive tackle Chris Mims (11 sacks), and linebacker Junior Seau (123 tackles, 5.5 sacks).

Did You Know?

• The Chargers had 22 new players on their roster in 1994, and 10 of them became starters.
• Backup quarterback Gale Gilbert became the first player to be a member of five consecutive Super Bowl teams, having been a third-string quarterback for the Buffalo Bills from 1990–1993.
• The Chargers were regarded as a 'Cinderella' team in Super Bowl XXIX.