The San Diego Chargers Information
Founded: 1959 (charter American Football League member)
Formerly known as: Los Angeles Chargers (1960)
Home field: Qualcomm Stadium (formerly Jack Murphy Stadium)
Previous home field: Balboa Stadium (1961-1966)
Uniform colors: Navy blue, gold, and white
Note: The original colors of the Charger franchise was
Electric blue (sky blue), gold, and white. The Chargers
now annually wear throwback uniforms from the 1960's
that are sentimental favorites
Helmet design: A yellow and white lightning bolt on
a blue helmet.
Note: The throwback jersey helmets are white with a
yellow lightning bolt and the player number in black.
League championships won: AFL 1963
AFC Championship: 1994
Super Bowl Appearances: 1994 Season
Nickname: Bolts, Super Chargers
Owner: Alex Spanos
Colors Navy blue, gold, and white
Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer
All-Time Record (W-L-T)
(At Start ofSeason) 327-357-11
San
Diego Chargers History
Their only coach for the ten year life of the AFL was
Sid Gillman, a Hall of Famer who forced his competition
to try to field as professional a product as the Chargers.
With stars such as Lance Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln
and John Hadl, the Chargers' offense struck fear into
the hearts of AFL defenders. They also played defense,
as indicated by their professional football record 49
pass interceptions in 1961. The Chargers were the originators
of the term "Fearsome Foursome" to describe
their all-star defensive line, anchored by Earl Faison
and Ernie Ladd. The phrase was later appropriated by
various NFL teams. The Chargers franchise appeared in
the first two American Football League Championship
games and five altogether, winning the AFL title in
1963 with a 51 - 10 thumping of the Boston Patriots.
The Chargers of that era were widely acknowledged as
having the most striking uniforms in the history of
pro football.
In 1970, the San Diego Chargers settled into the AFC
West division after the NFL merger with the AFL. 1979
marks a positive turning point for the Chargers franchise
as quarterback Dan Fouts sets an NFL record with his
fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game, in a game
in which he threw for 303 yards against the Oakland
Raiders. San Diego also clinched their first playoff
berth in 14 years with a 35-0 victory against the New
Orleans Saints. On Dec. 17, 1979, the Chargers defeat
the Denver Broncos 17-7 for their first AFC West division
title since the merger before a national Monday Night
Football television audience and their home crowd.
On January 2, 1982 the Chargers were involved in a
memorable double-overtime playoff game against the Miami
Dolphins, ultimately winning 41-38. Both quarterbacks
threw for more than 400 yards, and tight end Kellen
Winslow caught 13 passes and blocked a crucial field
goal despite despite suffering from heat-induced fatigue
and cramps. The game began with San Diego building a
24-0 lead and then losing all of it by early in the
third quarter.
In 1995, the San Diego Chargers made their first and
only Super Bowl appearance against the San Francisco
49ers in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami. The underdog Chargers
lost to the 49ers, 49-26.
They were the host team for Super Bowls XXII, XXXII,
and XXXVII in San Diego, but failed to make the playoffs
in any of these seasons. In fact, the Chargers had not
made the post-season since 1995, the year after their
Super Bowl XXIX appearance, until on December 19, 2004,
a year removed from their disastrous 4-12 season of
2003, they finally earned a trip back to the post-season
by capturing the AFC West Division Title, winning their
eighth straight game while shutting out the Cleveland
Browns 21-0. An estimated 1200+ fans waited as long
as six hours to greet the team at Chargers Park, their
year-round training facility starting in. The Chargers
went on to finish the regular season 12-4.
They entered the first round (the Wild Card portion)
of the playoffs as a lower seed, but proceeded to be
eliminated by opponent New York Jets, who won in overtime
over the Chargers 20-17. Rookie placekicker Nate Kaeding
missed a 40-yard field goal that would have advanced
San Diego into the next round, thus opening the door
for a Jets victory.
Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer was named the Associated
Press' NFL Coach Of The Year for the 2004-2005 season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Information
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a National Football League
team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Founded: 1933.
Formerly Known as: Pittsburgh Pirates (1933-1940)
Home field: Heinz Field
Previous home fields:
Forbes Field (1933-1963)
Pitt Stadium (1958-1969)
Three Rivers Stadium (1970-2000)
Uniform colors: Black and gold
Helmet design: Solid black on the left side. The team
logo, appearing only on the right side, is based on
the old U.S. Steel logo. It consists of the word "Steelers"
surrounded by three astroids (hypocycloids of four cusps).
League championships won: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979.
Super Bowl appearances: IX (won), X (won), XIII (won),
XIV (won), XXX (lost)
Famous gimmick: Terrible Towel
Colors Black and gold
Head Coach Bill Cowher
All-Time Record (W-L-T)
(At Start ofSeason) 508-498-21