1979 San Diego Chargers season
Encyclopedia
The 1979
San Diego Chargers
season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 1978
. They made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. It ended with a playoff loss to the Oilers.
As part of a marketing campaign, the Chargers created their fight song
, "San Diego Super Chargers
".
33–14. Clarence Williams rushed for 2 touchdwons. Rolf Benirschke
kicked 4 field goals, and Dan Fouts
passed for 224 yards.
In week 2, Fouts had 3 touchdowns and linebacker Woodrow Lowe
returned a Ken Anderson pass 32 yards for a score as San Diego beats the Oakland Raiders
30–10.
The next week, San Diego got a come-from-behind win over the Buffalo Bills
as Clarence Williams picked up 157 yards on 18 carries and had a team-record 4 rushing TDs.
In week 4, Chargers lost to the New England Patriots
27–21. Patriot linebacker Steve Nelson preserved the victory with an interception of a Dan Fouts pass on the New England
2-yard line with 1:37 remaining in the game.
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
. They made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. It ended with a playoff loss to the Oilers.
As part of a marketing campaign, the Chargers created their fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
, "San Diego Super Chargers
San Diego Super Chargers
"San Diego Super Chargers" is the fight song of the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . The disco song was written in 1979 during the Air Coryell era of the Chargers, and it was recorded by a band named Captain Q.B. and the Big Boys. New Chargers owners replaced the song in 1989...
".
NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | Kellen Winslow Kellen Winslow Kellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high... |
Tight End Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
University of Missouri University of Missouri The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses... |
Regular season
On opening day in The Kingdome on September 2, the Chargers beat the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
33–14. Clarence Williams rushed for 2 touchdwons. Rolf Benirschke
Rolf Benirschke
Rolf Joachim Benirschke is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers from 1978 to 1987, and was the host of the NBC daytime Wheel Of Fortune in 1989.-Early career:...
kicked 4 field goals, and Dan Fouts
Dan Fouts
Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...
passed for 224 yards.
In week 2, Fouts had 3 touchdowns and linebacker Woodrow Lowe
Woodrow Lowe
Woodrow Lowe , is a former professional American football linebacker who played from 1976-1986 for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League...
returned a Ken Anderson pass 32 yards for a score as San Diego beats the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
30–10.
The next week, San Diego got a come-from-behind win over the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as Clarence Williams picked up 157 yards on 18 carries and had a team-record 4 rushing TDs.
In week 4, Chargers lost to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
27–21. Patriot linebacker Steve Nelson preserved the victory with an interception of a Dan Fouts pass on the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
2-yard line with 1:37 remaining in the game.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 2, 1979 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
W 33–16 | |
| 2 | September 9, 1979 | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 30–10 | |
| 3 | September 16, 1979 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–19 | |
| 4 | September 23, 1979 | at New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
L 27–21 | |
| 5 | September 30, 1979 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
W 31–9 | |
| 6 | October 7, 1979 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 7–0 | |
| 7 | October 14, 1979 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
W 20–10 | |
| 8 | October 21, 1979 | at Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 40–16 | |
| 9 | October 25, 1979 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 45–12 | |
| 10 | November 4, 1979 | at Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
W 20–14 | |
| 11 | November 11, 1979 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 26–24 | |
| 12 | November 18, 1979 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 35–7 | |
| 13 | November 25, 1979 | Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
W 28–7 | |
| 14 | December 2, 1979 | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 28–26 | |
| 15 | December 9, 1979 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 35–0 | |
| 16 | December 17, 1979 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 17–7 | |
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisional | December 29, 1979 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 17–14 | |
Standings
| AFC West AFC West The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:... |
||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 411 | 246 |
| Denver Broncos 1979 Denver Broncos season The 1979 Denver Broncos season was the team's 20th year in professional football and its 10th with the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-References:* *... |
10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 289 | 262 |
| Seattle Seahawks 1979 Seattle Seahawks season The 1979 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's fourth season with the National Football League.-1979 NFL draft:-Staff:-Regular season:For the second straight year, the Seahawks missed the playoffs by one game... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 378 | 372 |
| Oakland Raiders 1979 Oakland Raiders season The 1979 Oakland Raiders season was their 10th in the league, and 20th overall. They matched their previous season's output of 9–7.-Season:Oakland started off 1–3, rallied to be 6–4, then following an upset lost to the Kansas City chiefs and were at 6–6... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 365 | 337 |
| Kansas City Chiefs 1979 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1979 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 7–9 record and fifth place finish in the AFC West. The Chiefs missed the playoffs due to the four other teams ahead of them in their division all finishing with winning records.... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 238 | 262 |
Awards and honors
- Sporting News Executive of the Year: John Sanders
- UPI Player of the Year: Dan FoutsDan FoutsDaniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...
See also
- 1979 NFL season1979 NFL seasonThe 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...