1960 Los Angeles Chargers season

The 1960 Los Angeles Chargers season was the team's inaugural season and also the inaugural season of the American Football League (AFL). Head coach Sid Gillman led the Chargers to the AFL Western Division title with a 10–4 record, in the team's only season in Los Angeles until its 2017 return, with its home field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[1][2]

1960 Los Angeles Chargers season
OwnerBarron Hilton
Head coachSid Gillman
General managerFrank Leahy
Home fieldLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Local radioKFI
Results
Record10–4
Division place1st Western Division
Playoff finishLost AFL Championship
(Houston Oilers, 24–16)

The season concluded with the AFL championship game against the Houston Oilers (10–4) of the Eastern Division, held at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston on New Year's Day. The teams had split their two games in the regular season, with the home teams winning, and the host Oilers were 6 1/2-point favorites to win the title.[3] Down by a point after three quarters, the Chargers gave up an 88-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and lost, 24–16.[4][5]

The Chargers had the right to host for the first ever AFL national championship game at the Los Angeles Coliseum. However as its attendance for home games was falling below 10,000 league and television officials fearing that showing empty seats in the 100,000+ seat Coliseum persuaded the Chargers to give up the advantage and move the game to Houston.[6]

Initially denied in December,[7] but announced in late January, owner Barron Hilton relocated the Chargers down the coast to a soon-to-be expanded Balboa Stadium in San Diego for the 1961 season.[8][9][10]

The Chargers would later return to Los Angeles to rejoin the Rams in 2017, 57 years later.[11]

AFL draft
Main article: 1960 American Football League draft

Roster
1960 Los Angeles Chargers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists



Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Season schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Game Recap
1 September 10 Dallas Texans W 21–20 1–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
17,724
 Recap
2 September 18 at Houston Oilers L 28–38 1–1 Jeppesen Stadium
20,156
 Recap
3 September 25 at Dallas Texans L 0–17 1–2 Cotton Bowl
42,000
 Recap
4 October 2 at Buffalo Bills W 24–10 2–2 War Memorial Stadium
15,821
 Recap
5 October 8 Boston Patriots L 0–35 2–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
18,226
 Recap
6 October 16 at Denver Broncos W 23–19 3–3 Bears Stadium
19,141
 Recap
7 Bye
8 October 28 at Boston Patriots W 45–16 4–3 Boston University Field
13,988
 Recap
9 November 4 at New York Titans W 21–7 5–3 Polo Grounds
19,402
 Recap
10 November 13 Houston Oilers W 24–21 6–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
21,805
 Recap
11 November 20 Buffalo Bills L 3–32 6–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
16,161
 Recap
12 November 27 Oakland Raiders W 52–28 7–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
15,075
 Recap
13 December 4 at Oakland Raiders W 41–17 8–4 Candlestick Park
12,061
 Recap
14 December 10 Denver Broncos W 41–33 9–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
9,928
 Recap
15 December 18 New York Titans W 50–43 10–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
11,457
 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Playoffs
Main article: 1960 American Football League Championship Game
Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap
Championship January 1, 1961 Houston Oilers L 16–24 Jeppesen Stadium 32,183 Recap

Standings
AFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Los Angeles Chargers 1040.7145–1373336W4
Dallas Texans 860.5714–2362253W3
Oakland Raiders 680.4292–4319388W1
Denver Broncos 491.3081–5309393L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References
  1. "Chargers clinch Western crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 11, 1960. p. 2, sports.
  2. "Chargers, Oilers set for big test". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. December 19, 1960. p. 14.
  3. "Oilers choice to win AFL grid title". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 1, 1961. p. 3, sports.
  4. "Blanda paces Oilers to AFL title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 2, 1961. p. 44.
  5. "Oilers stop LA pass attack, win AFL title contest, 24-16". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. January 2, 1961. p. 2C.
  6. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17218818/la_times_19850917_p46_chargers_history/
  7. "Harry Wismer optimistic about future". Gettysburg Times. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. December 23, 1960. p. 5.
  8. "LA Charger owner Hilton likes the setup in San Diego". Lodi News-Sentinel. California. UPI. January 7, 1961. p. 9.
  9. "Chargers move south". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 25, 1961. p. 13.
  10. "Chargers go to San Diego". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. January 25, 1961. p. 3B.
  11. Knoblauch, Austin (January 12, 2017). "Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved April 5, 2020.



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