Los Angeles Chargers retired numbers
The
Selection process
As of 2010, the team's policy was to have the
History
The Chargers have rarely retired numbers.[4] In 2006, The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, "The [Chargers] tend to honor their heritage haphazardly."[5] Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Ron Mix in 1969 was the first Charger to have his number retired after he announced he was quitting football.[3][6] However, he came out of retirement in 1971 to play for the Oakland Raiders.[7] Then-Chargers owner Gene Klein, who hated the Raiders, unretired the number.[8]
Alworth's No. 19 was retired in 2005, 35 years after he last played for the Chargers and 27 years after he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Union-Tribune in 2003 wrote that the Chargers no longer retired numbers, but Chargers president Dean Spanos said Junior Seau might be an exception. "If there's going to be another number retired, that's the one that's going to be retired," Spanos said.[15] Seau made 12 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances with San Diego.[16] He initially retired from the NFL in a 2006 ceremony with the Chargers, and the team planned to retire his number—as early as 2011—after his anticipated induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[17] However, Seau signed with the New England Patriots four days later, and continued playing until 2009.[18][19] Seau's No. 55 was retired in 2012 posthumously at his memorial.[8][20][21] "His play on the field combined with his leadership and charisma became the face of this team for more than a decade. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor," said Spanos.[16]
After LaDainian Tomlinson signed a one-day contract and retired as a Charger in 2012, Dean Spanos said his number would be retired in the future.[22] On November 22, 2015, the Chargers retired Tomlinson's No. 21.
In 2020, Chargers equipment manager Bob Wick said that he tried to keep Charlie Joiner's No. 18 out of circulation,[3] even though it had not been officially retired.[8][23] The Chargers retired Joiner's No. 18 and Kellen Winslow's No. 80 in 2023.[24]
Retired numbers
No. | Retired number |
---|---|
Player | Name of player honored |
Position | Player position |
Career | Years played with Chargers |
Retired | Year number was retired |
Honours | Accomplishments and awards |
†
|
Posthumously retired |
No. | Image | Player | Position | Career | No. Retired |
Honours | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | Dan Fouts | QB | 1973–1987 | 1988 | Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Chargers Hall of Fame Chargers 50th. anniv. team |
[25][26] | |
18 | Charlie Joiner | WR | 1976–1986 | 2023 | Pro Football Hall of Fame Chargers Hall of Fame |
[24] | |
19 | Lance Alworth | WR | 1962–1970 | 2005 | AFL All-Time Team College Football Hall of Fame |
[27] | |
21 | LaDainian Tomlinson | RB | 2001–2009 | 2015 | Pro Football Hall of Fame Chargers Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame |
[28] | |
55 | Junior Seau† | LB | 1990–2002 | 2012 | Pro Football Hall of Fame Chargers Hall of Fame NFL 1990s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team |
[29] | |
OT | 1960–1969 | 1969 | AFL All-Time Team Chargers Hall of Fame |
[4][31] | |||
80 | Kellen Winslow | TE | 1979–1987 | 2023 | Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL 1980s All-Decade Team NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Chargers Hall of Fame |
[24] |
See also
- List of National Football League retired numbers
Notes
- ^ Antonio Gates broke the yardage record in 2014.[14]
References
- ^ "San Diego Chargers History". Chargers.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
- ISBN 0762739061. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c Sullivan, Tim (March 4, 2010). "Retiring a number can be tricky math problem". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Scholfield, Steve (July 14, 2005). "Chargers to honor AFL icon Alworth". North County Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Tim (August 15, 2006). "This time, icon finally receives proper sendoff". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Politics Lure Charger's Mix". Schenectady Gazette. December 3, 1969. p. 37. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ISBN 0761315578. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c Canepa, Nick (May 13, 2012). "Chargers have several more numbers they should retire". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015.
- ^ a b "Notes: Fields upbeat; Clemson's Crosby confident; Cowboys, Jets deal". USA Today. -Associated Press. July 14, 2005. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022.
- ^ Burch, Jimmy (September 22, 2009). "Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts chosen as 2009 recipient of Davey O'Brien Award". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
- ^ Jenkins, Chris (November 28, 1988). "NFL: 49ers 48, Chargers 10". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (July 17, 2005). "Titans have their share of off field problems". Gadsden Times. Associated Press. p. C8. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
- ^ Magee, Jerry (November 20, 2005). "Receiving his due". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Alworth averaged more than 50 catches and 1,000 yards a year with the Chargers.
- ^ Acee, Kevin (October 23, 2014). "Gates breaks yardage record, still going". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014.
- ^ Trotter, Jim (October 27, 2003). "Seau says his career has been rejuvenated with trade to Miami, but he'd rather be here". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006.
- ^ a b "Seau's 55 to be retired by Chargers". Chicago Tribune. The Sports Xchange. May 12, 2012. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012.
- ^ Trotter, Jim (August 15, 2006). "Many thanks". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014.
- ^ Wilson, Bernie (August 19, 2006). "Seau signs with New England". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. p. 4B. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ "Patriots LB Seau retires for fourth time in 20-year NFL career". NFL.com. Associated Press. January 13, 2010. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014.
- ^ "Charges retire Junior Seau's number at memorial service". FoxNews.com. Sports Network. May 12, 2012. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012.
- ^ "Seau honored at Qualcomm Stadium, Chargers retire No. 55". New York Daily News. May 12, 2012. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012.
- ^ Wilson, Bernie (June 18, 2012). "Tomlinson signs 1-day contract with Bolts, retires". U-T San Diego. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- ^ Sullivan, Tim (May 10, 2012). "'55' remains prime number for Seau". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Chargers to Retire Numbers of Pro Football Hall of Fame Receiver Charlie Joiner and Pro Football Hall of Fame Tight End Kellen Winslow at Season Opener". Chargers.com. August 24, 2023.
- ^ Jardine, Jeff (November 28, 1988). "Bad Timing". The Modesto Bee. p. D1. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
- ^ DAN FOUTS - Class of 1993 at PFHF
- ^ Gaughan, Mark (November 18, 2005). "Concussed Holcomb still listed as questionable". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ Gehlken, Michael (June 10, 2015). "Chargers to honor LaDainian Tomlinson". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015.
- ^ Williamson, Bill (May 12, 2012). "Chargers to retire Junior Seau's No. 55". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012.
- ^ Chargers have several more numbers they should retire By Nick Canepa on The San Diego Union Tribune, 13 May 2012
- ^ RON MIX - Class of 1979 on PFHF