Does San Diego Have An NFL Team?
Contents
No, San Diego does not currently have an NFL team. The city’s last NFL franchise, the Chargers, relocated to Los Angeles in 2017.
Introduction
American football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and the National Football League (NFL) is the top professional league. There are 32 NFL teams, and each team plays 16 games during the regular season. The regular season runs from September to December, and the top teams from each conference (the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference) advance to the playoffs.
History of San Diego’s NFL Teams
The San Diego Chargers began as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. The team played its home games at Balboa Stadium before moving to Qualcomm Stadium (now SDCCU Stadium) in 1967. The Chargers won one AFL Championship, in 1963, and appeared in five AFL title games. They joined the National Football League (NFL) as part of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, and played their home games at San Diego Stadium until 2003. The team then moved to Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
The San Diego Chargers were one of two teams that began play in the AFL in 1960, along with the founding Denver Broncos. The Chargers’ first season was highlighted by strong performances from a number of players, including wide receiver Lance Alworth, running back Keith Lincoln, and offensive lineman Ernie Wright. The team’s first head coach was Sid Gillman, who would lead the Chargers for 10 seasons.
In 1961, the Chargers hired Chuck Noll to be their head coach. Noll led the team for 5 seasons, during which time they had a record of 20-41-1. He was then replaced by Harlon Hill for one season. In 1966, Don Coryell became the Chargers’ head coach; he would lead the team for 11 seasons. During Coryell’s tenure as head coach, the Chargers had 7 winning seasons and made 3 trips to the playoffs.
After unsuccessful stints with Bobby Ross and Mike Riley, Norv Turner became head coach of the Chargers in 2007. Turner led the team to 3 consecutive AFC West titles from 2006 to 2008 but was unable to win a playoff game during his tenure. He was replaced by Anthony Lynn following the 2016 season. Lynn led the team to 9 wins in 2017, their first winning season since 2009; unfortunately, they missed out on the playoffs due to tiebreakers.
The San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team was founded on August 14, 1959, and began play on September 10, 1960, as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL).
The San Diego Chargers Move to Los Angeles
On January 12, 2017, the San Diego Chargers announced their move to Los Angeles, California. The team will play their home games at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, until the Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park is completed in 2020.
This move came as a surprise to many fans in San Diego, as the Chargers had been in talks to build a new stadium in the city. However, the team could not come to an agreement with the city on how to finance the project. As a result, the Chargers decided to move to Los Angeles, where they will share a stadium with the Los Angeles Rams.
Although there is no longer an NFL team in San Diego, the city is home to two other professional sports teams: the San Diego Padres (MLB) and the San Diego State Aztecs (NCAA).
The San Diego Fleet
The San Diego Fleet is a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. The Fleet compete in the Alliance of American Football (AAF), and play their home games at SDCCU Stadium. The team’s head coach is Mike Martz and their general manager is David Boller.
The AAF suspended operations in April 2019, but on January 27, 2020, it was announced that the league would resume in the spring of 2020 with eight teams. Accordingly, the Fleet were one of the eight AAF teams that were active for the league’s relaunch.
Conclusion
San Diego does not currently have an NFL team. The Chargers franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 2017, and the city has not yet been awarded another team. There is significant public interest in bringing an NFL team back to San Diego, but it remains to be seen if that will happen in the near future.
