The 1975 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's sixth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 16th overall. The team failed to improve on their 5–9 record in 1974. The Chargers lost their first eleven games amidst attendances under 30,000,[1] along with considerable off-field problems as several regular players wanted to leave[2] and the franchise knew it would not get the first choice in the 1976 draft due to the expansion Seahawks and Buccaneers.
1975 San Diego Chargers season | |
---|---|
Owner | Eugene V. Klein |
Head coach | Tommy Prothro |
General manager | Harland Svare |
Home field | San Diego Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 2–12 |
Division place | 4th AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | T Russ Washington |
By the beginning of December, the prospect of the first winless and tieless season since World War II loomed, and led to serious discussion of the Chargers’ plight in the press – although that press acknowledged that even with three games to go the Chargers had a genuine chance to win facing fellow cellar-dwellers the Jets and Kansas City.[3] The Chargers eventually finished 2–12, tying the New Orleans Saints for the NFL’s worst record. The team suffered badly from injuries, most critically running back Don Woods, who had been AFC Rookie of the Year in 1974, but played only the first four games in this season.[4] 1975 would remain as the Chargers’ poorest until a 1–15 disaster in 2000.
NFL Draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Gary Johnson | Defensive tackle | Grambling State |
1 | 22 | Mike Williams | Defensive back | LSU |
2 | 30 | Louie Kelcher | Defensive tackle | SMU |
2 | 33 | Fred Dean | Defensive end | Louisiana Tech |
3 | 73 | Mike Fuller | Defensive back | Auburn |
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers Tight ends
| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| Reserve lists
|
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 0–37 | 0–1 | San Diego Stadium | 35,853 | Recap |
2 | September 28 | at Houston Oilers | L 17–33 | 0–2 | Houston Astrodome | 33,765 | Recap |
3 | October 5 | Oakland Raiders | L 0–6 | 0–3 | San Diego Stadium | 31,095 | Recap |
4 | October 12 | Los Angeles Rams | L 10–13(OT) | 0–4 | San Diego Stadium | 37,382 | Recap |
5 | October 19 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 10–12 | 0–5 | San Diego Stadium | 26,469 | Recap |
6 | October 26 | at Oakland Raiders | L 0–25 | 0–6 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 42,796 | Recap |
7 | November 1 | at New York Giants | L 24–35 | 0–7 | Shea Stadium | 52,032 | Recap |
8 | November 9 | New England Patriots | L 19–33 | 0–8 | San Diego Stadium | 24,349 | Recap |
9 | November 16 | Denver Broncos | L 17–27 | 0–9 | San Diego Stadium | 26,048 | Recap |
10 | November 23 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 13–28 | 0–10 | Metropolitan Stadium | 43,737 | Recap |
11 | November 30 | at Denver Broncos | L 10–13(OT) | 0–11 | Mile High Stadium | 44,982 | Recap |
12 | December 7 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 28–20 | 1–11 | Arrowhead Stadium | 46,888 | Recap |
13 | December 15 | New York Jets | W 24–16 | 2–11 | San Diego Stadium | 49,706 | Recap |
14 | December 21 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 17–47 | 2–12 | Riverfront Stadium | 46,474 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Oakland Raiders(2) | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 5–1 | 8–3 | 375 | 255 | W1 |
Denver Broncos | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 3–3 | 4–7 | 254 | 307 | L1 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3–3 | 3–8 | 282 | 341 | L4 |
San Diego Chargers | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 1–5 | 2–9 | 189 | 345 | L1 |
References
- ^ Asher, Mark; ‘Shrinking Sports Picture’; The Washington Post, December 3, 1975, p. D8
- ^ McDonough, Will; ‘Whither Chargers? Hadley Withered’; Boston Globe; November 8, 1975, p. 83
- ^ Anderson, Dave; ‘ The Chargers Are 0–11, Going on 0–14’; The New York Times, December 2, 1975, p. 51
- ^ Power, Don; ‘ Chargers winless and injured, but still tough, says Fairbanks’; Boston Globe; November 6, 1975, p. 34