When you think of the history of the Chargers, you think of dominant players such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, and Junior Seau. But how have they fared historically as a team in the playoffs?
A Look Back at the History of the Chargers
The Chargers began as the Los Angeles Chargers in 1960 as a member of the American Football League. They won their division but lost the AFL Championship to the Houston Oilers, 24-16.
Following that season, they were relocated to San Diego and kept their name as the Chargers and their place in the AFL’s Western Division.
They competed in four of the first five AFL Championship games (1961, 1963, 1964, and 1965) and were crowned league champions in 1963. However, they did not win the Western Division or any of the four division titles over the four seasons after 1965.
In 1970, the AFL merged with the NFL, and as part of the arrangement, the Chargers remained in San Diego and joined the AFC West division, which they still play in today.
The transition proved to be a struggle for the Chargers, as they were nothing short of bottom feeders for the first eight seasons in the NFL until they hired head coach Don Coryell in 1978.
Coryell would be just what the doctor ordered for this franchise, as they became the most exciting offense in the NFL, leading the league in passing yards in consecutive seasons from 1978-1983. Los Angeles would claim division titles and playoff berths in each year from 1979 to 1981.
Following a shortened 1982 season, the Chargers would then enter a nine-year playoff drought from 1983 to 1991 before finishing 11-5 and winning the division again in 1992. As the San Diego Chargers, they would go on to win the division in 1994, 2004, 2006-2009.
That 1994 season led to the Chargers’ only appearance in the Super Bowl (Super Bowl 29).
The Chargers returned to Los Angeles for the 2017 season. Since then, they have finished second in the AFC West (2018 and 2022), earning playoff berths in each, but have yet to win the division.
Chargers Playoff Results
- 1960-61: Lost AFL Championship to Houston Oilers, 10-3
- 1962-63: Won AFL Championship over Boston Patriots, 51-10
- 1963-64: Lost AFL Championship to Buffalo Bills, 20-7
- 1964-65: Lost AFL Championship to Buffalo Bills, 23-0
- 1979-80: Lost AFC Divisional Round to Houston Oilers, 17-14
- 1980-81: Won AFC Divisional Round over Buffalo Bills, 20-14; Lost AFC Championship to Oakland Raiders, 34-27
- 1981-82: Won AFC Divisional Round over Miami Dolphins, 41-38; Lost AFC Championship to Cincinnati Bengals, 27-7
- 1982-83: Won AFC Wild Card over Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-28; Lost AFC Divisional Round to Miami Dolphins, 34-13
- 1992-93: Won AFC Wild Card over Kansas City Chiefs; Lost AFC Divisional Round to Miami Dolphins, 31-0
- 1994-95: Won AFC Divisional Round over Miami Dolphins, 22-21; Won AFC Championship over Pittsburgh Steelers, 17-13.; Lost Super Bowl 29 to San Francisco 49ers, 49-26
- 1995-96: Lost AFC Wild Card to Indianapolis Colts, 35-20
- 2004-05: Lost AFC Wild Card to New York Jets, 20-17
- 2006-07: Lost AFC Divisional Round to New England Patriots, 24-21
- 2007-08: Won AFC Wild Card over Tennessee Titans, 17-6; Won AFC Divisional Round over Indianapolis Colts, 28-24; Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots, 21-12
- 2008-09: Won AFC Wild Card over Indianapolis Colts 23-17; Lost AFC Divisional Round to Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-24
- 2009-10: Lost AFC Divisional Round to New York Jets, 17-14
- 2013-14: Won AFC Wild Card over Cincinnati Bengals, 27-10; Lost AFC Divisional Round to Denver Broncos
- 2018-19: Won Wild Card over Baltimore Ravens, 23-17; Lost AFC Divisional Round to New England Patriots, 41-28
- 2022-23: Lost Wild Card to Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-30