The Chargers were established in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL).¹⁾

The team initially played in Los Angeles for one season before relocating to San Diego in 1961.²⁾

The franchise’s original owner, hotel magnate Barron Hilton, chose the name “Chargers” after being inspired by the charging sound of bugles at USC football games.³⁾

He was a pioneer in modern passing offenses and played a key role in shaping today’s NFL passing game.⁴⁾

The Chargers won their only AFL Championship before the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.⁵⁾

The team played in San Diego for more than five decades before returning to Los Angeles in 2017.⁶⁾

Their first home in San Diego was Balboa Stadium before moving to San Diego Stadium (later known as Qualcomm Stadium).⁷⁾

The Chargers were famous for their explosive passing attack under coach Don Coryell in the late 1970s and early 1980s.⁸⁾

Quarterback Dan Fouts became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons (1979-1981).⁹⁾

Hall of Famer Junior Seau was one of the most beloved Chargers, playing 13 seasons with the team from 1990 to 2002.¹⁰⁾

The Chargers made their only Super Bowl appearance after the 1994 season but lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 49-26.¹¹⁾

Quarterback Stan Humphries led the Chargers to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.¹²⁾

The Chargers’ bolt is one of the most recognizable logos in the NFL.¹³⁾

From 1983 to 1991, the Chargers missed the playoffs for nine straight seasons.¹⁴⁾

After the Super Bowl run, the team struggled for several years before bouncing back in the 2000s.¹⁵⁾