Fan mail address
Los Angeles Chargers
3333 Susan Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-5562
USA
Address information
(Training Facility / Corporate Offices)
3333 Susan Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-5562
USA
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California, and compete in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Known for their distinctive lightning bolt logo, the Chargers have a history of explosive offenses, star quarterbacks, and notable players who have made lasting impacts on the league.
The Chargers franchise was established in 1959 by hotel magnate Barron Hilton as part of the American Football League (AFL) and began play in 1960. Initially, they were based in Los Angeles, but after just one season, the team relocated to San Diego. The team’s early success came under the guidance of head coach Sid Gillman, who is credited with pioneering the “vertical passing game,” emphasizing downfield throws that became a hallmark of the Chargers’ offensive philosophy.
Under Gillman’s leadership, the Chargers were highly competitive in the AFL. They won five division titles between 1960 and 1965, with their first major achievement coming in 1963 when they won the AFL Championship by defeating the Boston Patriots. Players like wide receiver Lance Alworth, fullback Paul Lowe, and quarterback Tobin Rote were instrumental in the team’s success. Alworth, one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers, eventually became the first AFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 1970, the AFL merged with the NFL, and the Chargers became part of the newly formed American Football Conference (AFC). While the Chargers had some successful seasons during the 1970s, they struggled to consistently compete for championships. This changed in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the arrival of head coach Don Coryell and quarterback Dan Fouts. Coryell, like Gillman, emphasized a pass-heavy offense known as “Air Coryell,” which transformed the Chargers into one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses.
