NFL Team Guide

Los Angeles Chargers: History, Super Bowls & Facts

The Chargers were a charter member of the American Football League in 1960, played one season in Los Angeles, then spent 56 seasons in San Diego before returning to Los Angeles in 2017. The franchise won the 1963 AFL Championship and reached Super Bowl XXIX after the 1994 season.

Listen to Chargers Daily, the daily Los Angeles Chargers podcast→

Quick facts

Founded1959, a charter member of the AFL (first season 1960)
StadiumSoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California (since 2020, shared with the Rams)
League titles1 AFL Championship (1963)
Super Bowl appearances1 (XXIX, 1994 season)
Division titles15 through the 2025 season (5 AFL West, 10 AFC West; last in 2009)
HomesLos Angeles (1960), San Diego (1961–2016), Los Angeles (2017–)

Super Bowl history

The Chargers have not won a Super Bowl as of 2026. Their only league title is the 1963 AFL Championship.

  • 1963 AFL Championship Game: beat the Boston Patriots 51–10
  • 1994 AFC Championship: won at Pittsburgh to reach the Super Bowl
  • Super Bowl XXIX (1994 season): lost to the San Francisco 49ers 49–26
  • AFC Championship Game losses: 1980, 1981 and 2007 seasons

Franchise history

  • 1960: Began play in the AFL in Los Angeles, owned by Barron Hilton and coached by Sid Gillman.
  • 1961: Moved to San Diego.
  • 1963: Won the AFL Championship.
  • 1978: Hired head coach Don Coryell, whose "Air Coryell" passing offense led the NFL in passing yards from 1978 to 1983.
  • 1995: Played in Super Bowl XXIX in January, after the 1994 season.
  • 2017: Returned to Los Angeles, announced on January 12, 2017.
  • 2020: Moved into SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Franchise record holders

Rushing yardsLaDainian Tomlinson, 12,490
Receiving touchdownsAntonio Gates, 116
SacksLeslie O'Neal, 105.5

Retired numbers

  • 14Dan Fouts
  • 18Charlie Joiner
  • 19Lance Alworth
  • 21LaDainian Tomlinson
  • 55Junior Seau
  • 80Kellen Winslow

Hall of Famers

Lance Alworth, Ron Mix, Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner, Fred Dean, Junior Seau, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Sid Gillman (coach), Don Coryell (coach).

Biggest rivalries

  • Las Vegas Raiders: AFL and AFC West rivals since 1960, who met in the postseason in the 1980 AFC Championship Game.
  • Kansas City Chiefs: AFL and AFC West rivals since 1960, who met in the playoffs after the 1992 season.
  • Denver Broncos: AFL and AFC West rivals since 1960, who met in the playoffs after the 2013 season.

Test your Los Angeles Chargers knowledge

Play today’s Los Angeles Chargers trivia on Fan Arch Games: Mystery Player, All-Time Greats and Higher or Lower. New games every day.

Play today’s game →

Follow the Los Angeles Chargers every day

Chargers Daily is Fan Arch’s daily Los Angeles Chargers podcast, with new episodes every day on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Go to Chargers Daily → All NFL Podcasts →

Los Angeles Chargers FAQ

Have the Chargers ever won a Super Bowl?

No, not as of 2026. They reached one, Super Bowl XXIX after the 1994 season, and lost 49–26 to the San Francisco 49ers.

What championship have the Chargers won?

The 1963 AFL Championship, beating the Boston Patriots 51–10.

Why did the Chargers leave Los Angeles in 1961?

After one AFL season in Los Angeles, where they competed with the NFL's Rams for fans, the team moved to San Diego.

When did the Chargers move back to Los Angeles?

Owner Dean Spanos announced the move on January 12, 2017. The team played at the StubHub Center in Carson from 2017 to 2019 and moved into SoFi Stadium in 2020.

Which numbers have the Chargers retired?

Six: 14 (Dan Fouts), 18 (Charlie Joiner), 19 (Lance Alworth), 21 (LaDainian Tomlinson), 55 (Junior Seau) and 80 (Kellen Winslow).

Sources

Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.