Legacy of the San Diego Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers were the original team. Back in 1960, Lamar Hunt created the American Football League and the L.A. Chargers were one of the eight teams to help get that entity off the ground. Only one year later, the Charger would move to San Diego and play in ancient Balboa Stadium.
On Sunday, the Chargers might have played their last game in the city. Since 1967, they have called Qualcomm Stadium home and provided both the American and National Football League with some of the great memories of the last 55 years.
Who could forget the sweet talents of Paul Lowe and Lance Alworth, back when the Chargers were seemingly an annual participant in the AFL Championship Game. Of course, this was also the time of Sid Gillman, one of the great offensive minds in professional football history. In the late 1970s, we got the stylings of Don Coryell, who ushered in an entirely different way to throw the ball. Coryell had some of the most prolific players of all-time on his roster, ranging from Dan Fouts and Charlie Joiner to Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow.
In 1994, San Diego made an improbable run to its only Super Bowl appearance. The team was coached by Bobby Ross and led by quarterback Stan Humphries, who directed a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium in the AFC Championship Game.
Since then, we have seen Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates make some beautiful music. While none of their many accomplishments should be forgotten, there will always be the lingering feeling that there should have been more. So many years, Rivers and Co. were perhaps the most talented team in the NFL, only to fall short in the playoffs to the New England Patriots and New York Jets.
Now, it appears that no Super Bowl will ever be brought to San Diego, unless it is hosting. The Chargers are all but out the door, waving one final time after spanking the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. For the fans, it must be akin to watching a loved one slowly passing away. You have so many things to say and despite knowing that the moment will soon be upon you, the words are impossible to get out. All you can do is release a tear and hope for better days, knowing they are coming but yet feeling like they will never get here.
Perhaps for San Diego fans, the hard part is over. The goodbyes have been said and now it is time to draw the curtain to a close. The Chargers never took home the ultimate prize and certainly, 2015 was a bust. However, they leave their fans with a lifetime of excitement and memories, something that will last far longer than the pain.
