As of 2010, the team's policy was to have the Chargers Hall of Fame committee evaluate candidates for a player's number to retire after the player has retired from the league after five years. The committee consisted of Chargers Executive Vice President A. G. Spanos, Chargers public relations director Bill Johnston, San Diego Hall of Champions founder Bob Breitbard, and the presidents of the San Diego Sports Commission and the Chargers Backers Fan Club. There are few recognized guidelines in sports regarding retiring numbers, and the NFL has no specific league policy. "You have to have enough numbers for players to wear," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.[3]
Historyedit
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]
Dan Fouts had his No. 14 retired in 1988, a year after his retirement.[9] He was the first NFL quarterback to top the 4,000-yard passing mark in three consecutive seasons. He set a then-NFL single-season passing record in 1981, throwing for a career-high 4,802 yards.[10] At the retirement of his number, Fouts asked for "more recognition of former players and a warmer relationship between Charger players and management. I'd like to see Lance Alworth's number retired, too. We've had some great players here."[11]
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.[5][9] He was still one of the most popular athletes in San Diego history. Nicknamed Bambi for his speed and graceful leaping skills, Alworth was a pioneer for the Chargers and the AFL in the 1960s. He was selected All-AFL seven times from 1963 to 1969 and averaged more than 50 catches and 1,000 yards a year with San Diego.[12][13] He retired with the most career yards (9,584) in team history, a record that held for almost 45 years.[a]
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]
^Number was un-retired by the Chargers in 1971 due to then Chargers owner Gene Klein's dislike towards the Raiders (where Mix had been played for).[30]
^. Chargers.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
^Johnston, Darly; Gigliotti, Jim (2005). Watching Football:Discovering The Game Within The Game. Globe Pequot. p. 27. ISBN0762739061. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
^ abcSullivan, Tim (March 4, 2010). "Retiring a number can be tricky math problem". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
^ abScholfield, Steve (July 14, 2005). "Chargers to honor AFL icon Alworth". North County Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012.
^ abSullivan, Tim (August 15, 2006). . 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.
^Sullivan, George (2000). Any Number Can Play:The Numbers Athletes Wear. Milbrook Press. p. 58. ISBN0761315578. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
^ abcCanepa, Nick (May 13, 2012). . U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015.
^ ab. USA Today. -Associated Press. July 14, 2005. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022.
^Burch, Jimmy (September 22, 2009). . 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. from the original on December 7, 2014.
^Trotter, Jim (October 27, 2003). . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006.
^ ab. Chicago Tribune. The Sports Xchange. May 12, 2012. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012.
^Trotter, Jim (August 15, 2006). . 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.
^. NFL.com. Associated Press. January 13, 2010. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014.
^. FoxNews.com. Sports Network. May 12, 2012. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012.
^. 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. 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.
^ abc"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.
^Gaughan, Mark (November 18, 2005). . 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. from the original on June 11, 2015.
^Williamson, Bill (May 12, 2012). . 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
angeles, chargers, retired, numbers, angeles, chargers, professional, american, football, team, national, football, league, based, greater, angeles, area, club, began, play, 1960, charter, member, american, football, league, spent, first, season, angeles, befo. The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team in the National Football League NFL based in the Greater Los Angeles Area The club began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League AFL and spent its first season in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego in 1961 1 They returned to Los Angeles in 2017 NFL teams assign each of their players a jersey number ranging from 0 through 99 2 The Chargers no longer issue six retired numbers Junior Seau s No 55 was retired posthumously by the then San Diego Chargers in 2012 Contents 1 Selection process 2 History 3 Retired numbers 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesSelection process editAs of 2010 the team s policy was to have the Chargers Hall of Fame committee evaluate candidates for a player s number to retire after the player has retired from the league after five years The committee consisted of Chargers Executive Vice President A G Spanos Chargers public relations director Bill Johnston San Diego Hall of Champions founder Bob Breitbard and the presidents of the San Diego Sports Commission and the Chargers Backers Fan Club There are few recognized guidelines in sports regarding retiring numbers and the NFL has no specific league policy You have to have enough numbers for players to wear said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello 3 History editThe 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 Dan Fouts had his No 14 retired in 1988 a year after his retirement 9 He was the first NFL quarterback to top the 4 000 yard passing mark in three consecutive seasons He set a then NFL single season passing record in 1981 throwing for a career high 4 802 yards 10 At the retirement of his number Fouts asked for more recognition of former players and a warmer relationship between Charger players and management I d like to see Lance Alworth s number retired too We ve had some great players here 11 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 5 9 He was still one of the most popular athletes in San Diego history Nicknamed Bambi for his speed and graceful leaping skills Alworth was a pioneer for the Chargers and the AFL in the 1960s He was selected All AFL seven times from 1963 to 1969 and averaged more than 50 catches and 1 000 yards a year with San Diego 12 13 He retired with the most career yards 9 584 in team history a record that held for almost 45 years a 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 editKey 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 Los Angeles Chargers retired numbers No Image Player Position Career No Retired Honours Ref 14 nbsp Dan Fouts QB 1973 1987 1988 Pro Football Hall of FameNFL 1980s All Decade TeamChargers Hall of FameChargers 50th anniv team 25 26 18 nbsp Charlie Joiner WR 1976 1986 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Chargers Hall of Fame 24 19 nbsp Lance Alworth WR 1962 1970 2005 Pro Football Hall of FameNFL 75th Anniversary All Time TeamNFL 100th Anniversary All Time TeamChargers Hall of FameAFL All Time TeamCollege Football Hall of Fame 27 21 nbsp LaDainian Tomlinson RB 2001 2009 2015 Pro Football Hall of FameChargers Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of Fame 28 55 nbsp Junior Seau LB 1990 2002 2012 Pro Football Hall of FameChargers Hall of FameNFL 1990s All Decade TeamNFL 100th Anniversary All Time Team 29 74 nbsp Ron Mix i OT 1960 1969 1969 Pro Football Hall of FameAFL All Time TeamChargers Hall of Fame 4 31 80 nbsp Kellen Winslow TE 1979 1987 2023 Pro Football Hall of FameNFL 1980s All Decade TeamNFL 75th Anniversary All Time TeamNFL 100th Anniversary All Time TeamChargers Hall of Fame 24 Number was un retired by the Chargers in 1971 due to then Chargers owner Gene Klein s dislike towards the Raiders where Mix had been played for 30 See also editList of National Football League retired numbersNotes edit Antonio Gates broke the yardage record in 2014 14 References edit San Diego Chargers History Chargers com Archived from the original on March 14 2012 Johnston Darly Gigliotti Jim 2005 Watching Football Discovering The Game Within The Game Globe Pequot p 27 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 Sullivan George 2000 Any Number Can Play The Numbers Athletes Wear Milbrook Press p 58 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Los Angeles Chargers retired numbers amp oldid 1223742169, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
