1970 San Diego Chargers season

Last updated

1970 San Diego Chargers season
Owner Eugene V. Klein
General manager Sid Gillman
Head coach Charlie Waller
Home field San Diego Stadium
Results
Record5–6–3
Division place3rd AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros None [2]

The 1970 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's eleventh overall season and first season in the National Football League (NFL). As a result of the NFL-AFL Merger, where the league was broken into two conferences, each member of the American Football League was moved into the American Football Conference.

Contents

San Diego's 5–6–3 record was the first of seven consecutive losing seasons for the franchise. The 1970 Chargers are the last NFL team to record three ties in a single season, a record which will likely stand, as since the NFL adopted overtime for regular season games in 1974 no team has recorded more than one tie in a season.

Offseason

NFL draft

1970 San Diego Chargers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 15 Walker Gillette   Wide receiver Richmond
242 Tom Williams   Defensive end UC Davis
494Bill Maddox  Tight end Syracuse
5119Pettus Farrar  Running back Norfolk State
6146 Billy Parks  Wide receiver Long Beach State 49ers
7171Jim Fabish  Running back Texas-El Paso
8198 Wayne Clark   Quarterback U. S. International
9223 Chris Fletcher   Cornerback Temple
10250 Mac Steen   Guard Florida
11275 Jack Protz   Linebacker Syracuse
12302Howard Gravelle Tight endUC Davis
13327Bernard Bradley  Defensive back Utah State
14354 Tyrone Caldwell  Defensive tackle South Carolina State
15379Eugene Childs Running backTexas-El Paso
16406Mike Green Running back Nebraska
17431Dave Sanks Guard Louisville
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster

1970 San Diego Chargers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 20 Baltimore Colts L 14–160–1 San Diego Stadium 47,782 Recap
2September 27 Oakland Raiders T 27–270–1–1San Diego Stadium42,109 Recap
3October 4at Los Angeles Rams L 10–370–2–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 69,564 Recap
4October 12 Green Bay Packers L 20–220–3–1San Diego Stadium53,064 Recap
5October 18at Chicago Bears W 20–71–3–1 Wrigley Field 45,278 Recap
6October 25 Houston Oilers T 31–311–3–2San Diego Stadium41,427 Recap
7November 1at Cleveland Browns W 27–102–3–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 80,047 Recap
8November 8 Denver Broncos W 24–213–3–2San Diego Stadium48,327 Recap
9November 15at Boston Patriots W 16–144–3–2 Harvard Stadium 30,597 Recap
10November 22at Oakland Raiders L 17–204–4–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,594 Recap
11November 29at Kansas City Chiefs L 14–264–5–2 Municipal Stadium 50,315 Recap
12December 6 Cincinnati Bengals L 14–174–6–2San Diego Stadium41,461 Recap
13December 13at Denver Broncos T 17–174–6–3 Mile High Stadium 50,959 Recap
14December 20 Kansas City Chiefs W 31–135–6–3San Diego Stadium41,379 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Baltimore Colts

Week One: Baltimore Colts at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts037616
Chargers007714

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 66 °F (18.9 °C), relative humidity 70%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 47,782
  • Box score
Game information

Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week Two: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Raiders3170727
Chargers3731427

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27.2 °C), relative humidity 17%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 42,109
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • Box score
Game information

Week 3: at Los Angeles Rams

Week Three: San Diego Chargers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers037010
Rams10200737

at Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20.0 °C), relative humidity 79%, wind 11 mph
  • Game attendance: 69,564
  • Box score
Game information

Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week Four: Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Packers3313322
Chargers0601420

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 12
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20.0 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 53,064
  • Box score
Game information

Week 5: at Chicago Bears

Week Five: San Diego Chargers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers0713020
Bears07007

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 50 °F (10.0 °C), relative humidity 55%, wind 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 45,278
  • Box score
Game information

Week 6: vs. Houston Oilers

Week Six: Houston Oilers at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Oilers01714031
Chargers01471031

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17.2 °C), relative humidity 67%, wind 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 41,427
  • Box score
Game information

Week 7: at Cleveland Browns

Week Seven: San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers0147627
Broncos370010

at Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (8.9 °C), relative humidity 83%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 80,047
  • Referee: Walt Fitzgerald
  • Box score
Game information

Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos

Week Eight: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Broncos077721
Chargers3140724

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), relative humidity 69%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 48,327
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • Box score
Game information

Week 9: at Boston Patriots

Week Nine: San Diego Chargers at Boston Patriots – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers007916
Patriots700714

at Harvard Stadium, Boston, Massachusetts

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 44 °F (6.7 °C), relative humidity 97%, wind 17 mph
  • Game attendance: 30,597
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • Box score
Game information

Week 10: at Oakland Raiders

Week Ten: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers007916
Raiders700714

at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13.3 °C), relative humidity 75%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 54,594
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • Box score
Game information

Week 11: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week Eleven: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers700714
Chiefs1037626

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 29
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (8.9 °C), relative humidity 89%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 50,315
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • Box score
Game information

Week 12: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week Twelve: Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Bengals0107017
Chargers070714

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), relative humidity 54%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 41,461
  • Box score
Game information

Week 13: at Denver Broncos

Week Thirteen: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers7100017
Broncos0031417

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 23 °F (−5.0 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 6 mph, wind chill 16
  • Game attendance: 50,959
  • Referee: John McDonough
  • Box score
Game information

Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week Fourteen: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs0103013
Chargers3147731

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12.2 °C), relative humidity 69%, wind 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 41,379
  • Referee: Norm Schachter
  • Box score
Game information

Standings

AFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Oakland Raiders 842.6674–0–27–2–2300293L1
Kansas City Chiefs 752.5832–3–17–3–1272244L2
San Diego Chargers 563.4552–2–24–4–3282278W1
Denver Broncos 581.3851–4–13–6–1253264L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Awards and honors

Related Research Articles

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The 2000 season was the San Diego Chargers' 31st in the National Football League (NFL), their 41st overall and their second under head coach Mike Riley. The Chargers failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 1999, and finished the season 1–15, the worst record of any Chargers team in history. The team lost its first eleven games before their only victory of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 2000 Chargers were also the first team to finish 1–15 and have their only win of the season be at home. Oddly enough, out of the eleven teams in NFL history to finish 1–15, only three others had their only win at home. The Chargers were also the third 1–15 team to win their lone game by a single point; the others, the 1980 New Orleans Saints and 1991 Indianapolis Colts, each defeated the New York Jets on the road. It was also Ryan Leaf’s final season with the Chargers.

The 1999 season was the San Diego Chargers' 30th in the National Football League (NFL), their 40th overall and their first under head coach Mike Riley.

The 1997 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League (NFL), its 38th overall and was the first season under Kevin Gilbride. With veteran first-string quarterback Stan Humphries missing half the season, the Chargers struggled and failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 1996. Backup quarterback Craig Whelihan went winless in seven starts, with the result that the Chargers lost their final eight games after a 4–4 start and scored only one touchdown in their final three games. The team finished with a 4–12 record and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

The 1996 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 37th, its 27th in the National Football League (NFL), and its 34th in San Diego.

The 1995 San Diego Chargers season was the team's 36th, its 26th in the National Football League (NFL), and its 35th in San Diego.

The 1993 San Diego Chargers season was the team's 34th season, their 33rd in San Diego, and 24th in the National Football League.

The 1986 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 27th overall. the team failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 1985. Following a stagnant 1–7 start, Head Coach Don Coryell was fired and Al Saunders was named interim Head Coach. After the season, Saunders was named the permanent Head Coach and would hold the position through the end of the 1988 season. Leslie O'Neal was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The 1984 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League (NFL) and its 25th overall. From a 6–10 record in 1983, the team improved to 7–9. Despite winning seven games, the Chargers failed to win a single game within their division.

The 1978 San Diego Chargers season was the team's 19th season, and ninth in the National Football League.

The 1977 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's eighth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 18th overall. It was Tommy Prothro's final full season as the team's head coach.

The 1974 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's fifth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 15th overall. The team improved on their 2–11–1 record in 1973 and finished 5–9. It was Tommy Prothro's first season as the team's head coach.

The 1973 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's fourth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 14th overall.

The 1972 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's third season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 13th overall. The team failed to improve on their 6–8 record in 1971. The Chargers would get off to a poor start, as they were devoured 34-3 in their season opener at San Francisco. After their week 2 win against the Denver Broncos, the Chargers would play to a 17-17 draw with another cross-state rival, the Oakland Raiders. It was San Diego's fourth tie in 3 seasons. Even after they defeated the Baltimore Colts in the week following the tie, the Bolts would stumble the rest of the year, winning only 2 more games en route to a 4-9-1 season. This squad featured several players like Duane Thomas, Tim Rossovich, Dave Costa and John Mackey who were unwanted by most of the other NFL teams.

The 1971 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's second season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 12th overall. The team improved on their 5–6–3 record in 1970. It was Harland Svare's first season as the team's head coach. After a 1-4 start, the Chargers would slightly improve, winning 3 of their next 4 games. However, they would lose 3 of their final 5 games en route to a 6-8 finish. The only bright spot was quarterback John Hadl who completed 233 passes out of 431 attempts for 3,075 yards and 21 touchdowns and won the NFL Man of the Year award as well as leading the league in both passing yards and touchdown passes.

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The 1968 Season was the 9th season for the San Diego Chargers as a professional AFL franchise; the team improved on their 8–5–1 record from 1967, finishing at 9–5. This was also Sid Gillman's final full year as Chargers head coach.

The 1967 Season was the 8th season for the San Diego Chargers as a professional AFL franchise; the team improved on their 7–6–1 record in 1966 and finishing at 8–5–1. It was the team's first season at San Diego Stadium, and the Chargers finished in third place in the AFL West Division with a record of 8–5–1.

References

  1. "1970 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. "1970 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.