Dream Team Project
Los Angeles Chargers Dream Team
The all-time Chargers lineup, position by position. Every player here suited up for the Chargers. Disagree with a pick? Leave a comment or nominate someone below.
How we pick
One real lineup per franchise, judged on what each player did in this uniform: impact, playoff moments and longevity with the team first, league honors second. Players are measured against their own era, and every entry is checked against the team site, the Pro Football Hall of Fame or Pro Football Reference.
The roster
Our picks, grouped by unit.
Offense
11 playersQB
Dan Fouts
Career Charger and field general of the Air Coryell passing attack.
6× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro; 1982 Offensive Player of the Year; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
RB
LaDainian Tomlinson
Most complete back of the 2000s and the 2006 league MVP.
NFL MVP 2006; 5× Pro Bowl; 3× 1st-team All-Pro; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
WR
Lance Alworth
"Bambi" was the AFL's most graceful and dangerous receiver.
1963 AFL champion; 7× AFL All-Star; 6× 1st-team All-AFL; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
WR
Charlie Joiner
Precise route runner who did his Hall of Fame work in 11 San Diego seasons.
3× Pro Bowl (1976, 1979, 1980); 1980 1st-team All-Pro; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
WR
Keenan Allen
Franchise leader in receptions across two cities and 12 seasons.
6× Pro Bowl; Chargers all-time receptions leader; 2017 Comeback Player of the Year
Sources: Wikipedia
TE
Antonio Gates
Undrafted former basketball player who became a 16-year Charger.
8× Pro Bowl; 3× 1st-team All-Pro (2004-2006); NFL-record 116 TD catches by a tight end; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
LT
Ernie Wright
Original Charger; Sid Gillman called him and Ron Mix the best tackle pair in football.
1963 AFL champion; 3× AFL All-Star (1961, 1963, 1965)
Sources: Wikipedia
LG
Doug Wilkerson
Fourteen-year Charger who pulled and protected for Air Coryell.
3× Pro Bowl (1980-1982); 1982 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
C
Nick Hardwick
Eleven-year center for the Tomlinson and Rivers offenses.
2006 Pro Bowl; 11 seasons, all with San Diego
Sources: Wikipedia
RG
Walt Sweeney
All-star guard for nine straight seasons across the AFL and NFL.
1963 AFL champion; 6× AFL All-Star; 3× Pro Bowl
Sources: Wikipedia
RT
Ron Mix
Original Charger and Hall of Fame tackle known as the "Intellectual Assassin".
1963 AFL champion; 8× AFL All-Star; AFL All-Time Team; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
Defense
11 playersDT
Gary Johnson
"Big Hands" was the top interior rusher of the Coryell-era defenses.
4× Pro Bowl (1979-1982); 2× 1st-team All-Pro (1980, 1981)
Sources: Wikipedia
DT
Jamal Williams
Immovable nose tackle for 12 seasons and anchor of the 2000s run defense.
3× Pro Bowl (2005-2007); 2× 1st-team All-Pro (2005, 2006)
Sources: Wikipedia
DE
Fred Dean
Lightning-quick rusher who built his Hall of Fame case in San Diego first.
2× Pro Bowl with SD (1979, 1980); 1980 1st-team All-Pro; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
EDGE
Leslie O'Neal
Left San Diego as the franchise sack leader after ten seasons.
6× Pro Bowl; 1986 Defensive Rookie of the Year; 105.5 sacks with SD
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Junior Seau
Hometown icon and the emotional leader of the franchise for 13 seasons.
12× Pro Bowl; 6× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 1990s All-Decade; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
LB
Shawne Merriman
Brief but ferocious peak: 39.5 sacks in his first three seasons.
2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year; 3× Pro Bowl (2005-2007); 2006 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Woodrow Lowe
Eleven-year fixture at linebacker who never played for another team.
11 seasons, all with San Diego
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Gill Byrd
Career Charger and a prolific ballhawk with 42 interceptions.
2× Pro Bowl (1991, 1992); 42 career interceptions; 2nd-team All-Pro 1992
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Quentin Jammer
Physical, durable corner who started for a decade without league honours.
11 seasons with SD; starter from 2003
Sources: Wikipedia
S
Rodney Harrison
Fierce strong safety who spent his first nine seasons in San Diego.
2× Pro Bowl (1998, 2001); 1998 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
S
Eric Weddle
Cerebral free safety who quarterbacked the secondary for nine seasons.
3× Pro Bowl with SD; 2× 1st-team All-Pro (2011, 2014)
Sources: Wikipedia
Special Teams / Coaching
4 playersK
John Carney
Eleven-year Chargers kicker, including the 1994 AFC championship season.
1994 Pro Bowl; 1994 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
P
Darren Bennett
Former Australian rules player who became an all-decade NFL punter.
2× Pro Bowl (1995, 2000); 1995 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 1990s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
RET
Speedy Duncan
Cornerback and return specialist who was an AFL All-Star three years running.
3× AFL All-Star (1965-1967); 3× 2nd-team All-AFL
Sources: Wikipedia
COACH
Sid Gillman
Father of the modern passing game and winner of the franchise's only title.
1963 AFL champion head coach; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
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