Los Angeles Chargers · Franchise era 1 of 7
The AFL's early innovators: the Los Angeles Chargers story
Franchise era
1960—1969
The AFL's early innovators
Los Angeles Chargers
The story in one sentence
Gillman's vertical passing principles and Alworth's speed produced five division titles and the franchise's only league championship in 1963.
Sid Gillman stretches the field
Lance Alworth, John Hadl and Paul Lowe gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for searching after gillman.
Timeline
How it unfolded
The foundation
The franchise context
The Chargers have repeatedly pushed offensive football forward—from the AFL's wide-open attack through Air Coryell and the Rivers–Tomlinson–Gates core—while living with some of the sport's narrowest misses.
1961-01-01
Conference Championship: San Diego Chargers vs Houston Oilers
1961-12-24
Conference Championship: Houston Oilers vs San Diego Chargers
1964-01-05
Conference Championship: New England Patriots vs San Diego Chargers
After 1969
What came next
San Diego struggled through transition but drafted the quarterback who would become the center of its next revolution.
The core