List of Los Angeles Chargers seasons

The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football franchise based in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The club was founded in 1959 by Barron Hilton and played the 1960 season in Los Angeles as part of the American Football League (AFL).^[1] In the next season, the Chargers moved to San Diego.^[2] In 2017, the Chargers relocated back to the Los Angeles area.^[3]

Qualcomm Stadium, where the Chargers played their home games from 1967 to 2016.

The franchise has experienced three major periods of success. The first was from 1960 to 1965, when the Chargers were AFL West champions five times and AFL champions once (in 1963).^[4] The second was from 1978 to 1982, when the Chargers had five consecutive winning records, four playoff appearances and three division championships.^[5] The most recent spell of sustained success ranged from 2004 to 2009, with the franchise reaching the playoffs five times in six years, each time as the AFC West champion.^[6] This run included their best regular season record, as they went 14–2 in 2006.^[7] Their only Super Bowl appearance was in 1994 (a loss to the San Francisco 49ers)^[8]

The Chargers have also experienced three notable periods of decline. For the thirteen seasons between 1965 and 1977 the Chargers never reached the postseason; they failed to post a winning record through their first eight years in the NFL (1970–77) and finished last in their division for four consecutive years from 1972 to 1975.^[9] From 1983 to 1991, they never placed higher than third in their division and did not make the playoffs.^[7] From 1996 to 2003, the team had no winning seasons, and posted their worst record to date, going 1–15 in 2000.^[7]

The Chargers have been division champions fourteen times: five in the AFL West and nine in the AFC West. As of the end of the 2023 season, the Chargers have played 64 seasons, with a cumulative record of 483–489–11 in the regular season and 12–19 in the postseason.^[7]

Seasons

Table legend

AFL champions (1960–1969) †

Conference champions *

Division champions ^

Wild card berth #

Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers seasonal records

Season	Team	League[7]	Conference	Division	Regular season[7]				Postseason results[10]	Awards[a]	Head coaches[11]
					Finish	W	L	T
Los Angeles Chargers
1960	1960	AFL		West^	1st^	10	4	0	Lost AFL Championship (at Oilers) 16–24		Sid Gillman
San Diego Chargers
1961	1961	AFL		West^	1st^	12	2	0	Lost AFL Championship (Oilers) 3–10	Earl Faison (ROY)[12]	Sid Gillman
1962	1962	AFL		West	3rd	4	10	0
1963	1963	AFL†		West^	1st^	11	3	0	Won AFL Championship (1) (Patriots) 51–10	Tobin Rote (MVP)[13]
1964	1964	AFL		West^	1st^	8	5	1	Lost AFL Championship (at Bills) 7–20
1965	1965	AFL		West^	1st^	9	2	3	Lost AFL Championship (Bills) 0–23
1966	1966	AFL		West	3rd	7	6	1
1967	1967	AFL		West	3rd	8	5	1		Dickie Post (OROY)[14]
1968	1968	AFL		West	3rd	9	5	0
1969	1969	AFL		West	3rd	8	6	0			Sid Gillman (4–5) Charlie Waller (4–1)
1970	1970	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	5	6	3			Charlie Waller
1971	1971	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	6	8	0			Sid Gillman (4–6) Harland Svare (2–2)
1972	1972	NFL	AFC	West	4th	4	9	1			Harland Svare
1973	1973	NFL	AFC	West	4th	2	11	1			Harland Svare (1–6–1) Ron Waller (1–5)
1974	1974	NFL	AFC	West	4th	5	9	0		Don Woods (OROY)[15]	Tommy Prothro
1975	1975	NFL	AFC	West	4th	2	12	0
1976	1976	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	6	8	0
1977	1977	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	7	7	0
1978	1978	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	9	7	0			Tommy Prothro (1–3) Don Coryell (8–4)
1979	1979	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	12	4	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 14–17		Don Coryell
1980	1980	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	11	5	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 20–14 Lost AFC Championship (Raiders) 27–34
1981	1981	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	10	6	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 41–38 (OT)[E] Lost AFC Championship (at Bengals)[F] 7–27
1982[b]	1982	NFL	AFC		6th#	6	3	0	Won First Round Playoffs (at Steelers) 31–28 Lost Second Round Playoffs (at Dolphins) 13–34	Dan Fouts (OPOY)[17]
1983	1983	NFL	AFC	West	5th	6	10	0
1984	1984	NFL	AFC	West	5th	7	9	0
1985	1985	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	8	8	0
1986	1986	NFL	AFC	West	5th	4	12	0		Leslie O'Neal (DROY)[18]	Don Coryell (1–7) Al Saunders (3–5)
1987[c]	1987	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	8	7	0			Al Saunders
1988	1988	NFL	AFC	West	4th	6	10	0
1989	1989	NFL	AFC	West	5th	6	10	0			Dan Henning
1990	1990	NFL	AFC	West	4th	6	10	0
1991	1991	NFL	AFC	West	5th	4	12	0
1992	1992	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	11	5	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 17–0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Dolphins) 0–31		Bobby Ross
1993	1993	NFL	AFC	West	4th	8	8	0
1994	1994	NFL	AFC*	West^	1st^	11	5	0	Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 22–21 Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 17–13 Lost Super Bowl XXIX (vs. 49ers) 26–49
1995	1995	NFL	AFC	West	2nd#	9	7	0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 20–35
1996	1996	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	8	8	0
1997	1997	NFL	AFC	West	5th	4	12	0			Kevin Gilbride
1998	1998	NFL	AFC	West	5th	5	11	0			Kevin Gilbride (2–4) June Jones (3–7)
1999	1999	NFL	AFC	West	4th	8	8	0			Mike Riley
2000	2000	NFL	AFC	West	5th	1	15	0
2001	2001	NFL	AFC	West	5th	5	11	0
2002	2002	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	8	8	0			Marty Schottenheimer
2003	2003	NFL	AFC	West	4th	4	12	0
2004	2004	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	12	4	0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 17–20 (OT)	Marty Schottenheimer (COY)[20] Drew Brees (CBPOY)[21]
2005	2005	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	9	7	0		Shawne Merriman (DROY)[18]
2006	2006	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	14	2	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 21–24	LaDainian Tomlinson (MVP, OPOY)[22][17]
2007	2007	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	11	5	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Titans) 17–6 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Colts) 28–24 Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 12–21		Norv Turner
2008	2008	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	8	8	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 23–17 (OT) Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 24–35
2009	2009	NFL	AFC	West^	1st^	13	3	0	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 14–17
2010	2010	NFL	AFC	West	2nd	9	7	0
2011	2011	NFL	AFC	West	2nd	8	8	0
2012	2012	NFL	AFC	West	2nd	7	9	0
2013	2013	NFL	AFC	West	3rd#	9	7	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Bengals) 27–10 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 17–24	Philip Rivers (CBPOY)[21]	Mike McCoy
2014	2014	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	9	7	0
2015	2015	NFL	AFC	West	4th	4	12	0
2016	2016	NFL	AFC	West	4th	5	11	0		Joey Bosa (DROY)[18]
Los Angeles Chargers
2017	2017	NFL	AFC	West	2nd	9	7	0		Keenan Allen (CBPOY)[21]	Anthony Lynn
2018	2018	NFL	AFC	West	2nd#	12	4	0	Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Ravens) 23–17 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 28–41
2019	2019	NFL	AFC	West	4th	5	11	0
2020	2020	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	7	9	0		Justin Herbert (OROY)[15]
2021	2021	NFL	AFC	West	3rd	9	8	0			Brandon Staley
2022	2022	NFL	AFC	West	2nd#	10	7	0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Jaguars) 30–31
2023	2023	NFL	AFC	West	4th	5	12	0			Brandon Staley (5–9) Giff Smith (0–3)
Totals 1 AFL Championship 1 AFC Conference Championship 15 Division titles						483	489	11	(1960–2023, Regular season only)
						12	19	—	(1960–2023, Postseason games only)
						495	508	11	(1960–2023, Total for all games)

Notes

1. Only Associated Press (AP) awards are included
2. The 1982 season was reduced to nine games by a players strike; instead of standard divisional play, the AFC teams were placed together in one fourteen-team division.^[16]
3. The 1987 season was reduced to nine games by a players strike.^[19]

References

1. "Grid league ready for losses". Racine Journal Times. AP. p. 17.
2. "Chronology". chargers.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
3. Knoblauch, Austin (January 12, 2017). "Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
4. "Chargers fly high---and Lowe, 37–26". Los Angeles Times. UPI. December 13, 1965. p. III-8. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Last minute factors". Scranton Times-Tribune. January 9, 1983. p. C-7. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
6. Martin, Kimberley A. (January 12, 2010). "Tall order for Jets' defense". New York Newsday. p. A46. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
7. "San Diego Chargers Franchise Encyclopedia". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
8. "Charger fans find solace in season". Bridgewater Courier-News. AP. January 30, 1994. p. C-2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Lowitt, Bruce (December 24, 1979). "Oilers, Eagles pass first tests". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B-1. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
10. "Los Angeles Chargers playoff history". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
11. "Los Angeles Chargers coaches". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
12. "AP AFL Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
13. "AP AFL Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
14. "AP AFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
15. "AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
16. "Tentative agreement reached; NFL to resume play Sunday with nine-week abbreviated season". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. AP. February 5, 1982. p. 1B. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "AP Offensive Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
18. "AP Defensive Rookie of the Year". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
19. Posner, Jay (October 20, 1987). "First-place team tries out driver's seat". Escondido Times-Advocate. p. D2. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
20. "AP Coach of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
21. "AP Comeback Player of the Year Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
22. "AP NFL Most Valuable Player Winners". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.