The Los Angeles Chargers joined the NFL in 1970 after the league absorbed the American Football League and some of its teams. The Chargers joined the AFL in 1960 as the Los Angeles Chargers before moving to San Diego in 1961 where they remained until 2017 when the franchise moved back to L.A. When they joined the NFL, they were known as the San Diego Chargers.
Have they ever hoisted a Lombardi Trophy? How did the Chargers fare prior to the merger?
How Many Super Bowls Have the Los Angeles Chargers Played In?
Technically, the Chargers have appeared in one Super Bowl and have yet to hoist the coveted Lombardi Trophy. However, at the time they were still known as the San Diego Chargers, as it was back in 1995 during Super Bowl XXIX.
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chargers by the score of 49–26, becoming the first team to win five Super Bowl championships. The Super Bowl is known for a few things, but the most important was Steve Young finally stepping out of the shadow of the legendary Joe Montana.
That year, the Chargers were considered the “Cinderella Team”, having made the playoffs at 11-5 and overcoming two halftime deficits in the postseason. Led by the relatively unknown Stan Humphries, the Chargers were a whopping 18.5-point underdog heading into the Super Bowl. It was the second-largest margin a team has been favored in a Super Bowl, and the 49ers still covered.
This was largely due to Young, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, throwing a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes, and completing 24 out of 36 passes for 325 yards.
The Chargers did make it to four championship games in the AFL. They appeared in 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1965. They were champions in 1963, defeating the Boston Patriots.
The Chargers appeared in four AFC Championship games, in 1981, 1982, 1995 and 2008. They defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1995 to advance to their first Super Bowl.
What Is the Chargers’ Super Bowl Record?
The Chargers lost their only Super Bowl to the San Francisco 49ers. They are 1-4 all-time in championship games, including NFL and AFL appearances.
Championship Wins by the Chargers
The only championship ever won by this franchise was won over the Boston Patriots in 1963 during their time in the American Football League. The Chargers dominated the Patriots by a score of 51-10.
Of the 10 championship games ever held in the AFL, this was the most points a team ever scored in an AFL Championship game.
Below, you can see every single playoff appearance by the Chargers.
| Season | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wild Card | vs Texans |
| 2022 | Wild Card | L: 31-30 vs Jaguars |
| 2018 | Divisional | L: 41-28 vs Patriots |
| 2013 | Divisional | L: 24-17 vs Broncos |
| 2009 | Divisional | L: 17-14 vs Jets |
| 2008 | Divisional | L: 35-24 vs Steelers |
| 2007 | Conf. Champ. | L: 21-12 vs Patriots |
| 2006 | Divisional | L: 24-21 vs Patriots |
| 2004 | Wild Card | L: 20-17 OT vs Jets |
| 1995 | Wild Card | L: 35-20 vs Colts |
| 1994 | Super Bowl | L: 49-26 vs 49ers |
| 1992 | Divisional | L: 31-0 vs Dolphins |
| 1982 | Divisional | L: 34-13 vs Dolphins |
| 1981 | Conf. Champ. | L: 27-7 vs Bengals |
| 1980 | Conf. Champ. | L: 34-27 vs Raiders |
| 1979 | Divisional | L: 17-14 vs Oilers |
| 1965 | AFL Champ | L: 23-0 vs Bills |
| 1964 | AFL Champ | L: 20-7 vs Bills |
| 1963 | AFL Champ | W: 51-10 vs Patriots |
| 1961 | AFL Champ | L: 10-3 vs Oilers |
| 1960 | AFL Champ | L: 24-16 vs Oilers |