LISTEN TO THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE LIGHTENING BOLT
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Chargers -- Established with seven other American Football League teams in 1959.  In 1960, the Chargers began AFL play in Los Angeles. The Chargers only spent one season in L.A. before moving to San Diego in 1961. The early AFL years of the San Diego Chargers were highlighted by the outstanding play of wide receiver Lance Alworth. In his day, he set the pro football record of consecutive games with a reception. The Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers were one of the elements that made the American Football League the genesis of modern professional football.

Their only coach for the ten year life of the AFL was Sid Gillman, a Hall of Famer who forced his competition to try to field as professional a product as the Chargers. With stars such as Lance Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln and John Hadl, the Chargers' offense struck fear into the hearts of AFL defenders. They also played defense, as indicated by their professional football record 49 pass interceptions in 1961. The Chargers were the originators of the term "Fearsome Foursome" to describe their all-star defensive line, anchored by Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd. The phrase was later appropriated by various NFL teams. The Chargers franchise appeared in the first two American Football League Championship games and five altogether, winning the AFL title in 1963 with a 51 - 10 thumping of the Boston Patriots. The Chargers of that era were widely acknowledged as having the most striking uniforms in the history of pro football.

In 1970, the San Diego Chargers settled into the AFC West division after the NFL merger with the AFL. 1979 marks a positive turning point for the Chargers franchise as quarterback Dan Fouts sets an NFL record with his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game, in a game in which he threw for 303 yards against the Oakland Raiders. San Diego also clinched their first playoff berth in 14 years with a 35-0 victory against the New Orleans Saints. On Dec. 17, 1979, the Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos 17-7 for their first AFC West division title since the merger before a national Monday Night Football television audience and their home crowd.

On January 2, 1982 the Chargers were involved in a memorable double-overtime playoff game against the Miami Dolphins, ultimately winning 41-38. Both quarterbacks threw for more than 400 yards, and tight end Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes and blocked a crucial field goal despite despite suffering from heat-induced fatigue and cramps. The game began with San Diego building a 24-0 lead and then losing all of it by early in the third quarter.

In 1995, the San Diego Chargers made their first and only Super Bowl appearance against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami. The underdog Chargers lost to the 49ers, 49-26.