1969 San Diego Chargers season

The 1969 San Diego Chargers season was the team's tenth as a franchise and their ninth in San Diego. It began with the team trying to improve on their 9–5 record in 1968, as this would be the last season for the team with a winning record until 1978. It was the last American Football League season before the AFL–NFL merger. It was also Sid Gillman's final season as the team's head coach, as he resigned due to poor health in the middle of the season, and Charlie Waller took over for the last five games.

1969 San Diego Chargers season
OwnerEugene V. Klein
General managerSid Gillman
Head coachSid Gillman (4-5)
Charlie Waller (4-1)
Home fieldSan Diego Stadium
Results
Record8–6
Division place3rd Western Division
Playoff finishDid not qualify
All-AFL
AFL All-Stars

Offseason

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NFL/AFL draft

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1969 San Diego Chargers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 9 Marty Domres  Quarterback Columbia
1 18 Bob Babich  Linebacker Miami (Ohio)
2 44 Ron Sayers  Running back Omaha
3 70 Gene Ferguson  Tackle Norfolk State
5 122 Harry Orszulak  Flanker Pittsburgh Panthers
6 147 Terry Swarn  Flanker Colorado State
8 200 Craig Cotton  Tight end Youngstown State Played for the Chargers in 1975 after missing the roster in 1969
9 226 Joe Williams  Defensive back Southern
10 251 David Arnold  Guard Northwestern Graduated in 1967; drafted from the Texarkana Titans of the Texas Football League
11 278 Willie Norwood  Tight end Alcorn State
12 304 Jim White  Running back Arkansas-Pine Bluff
13 330 Mike Simpson  Defensive back Houston
14 356 Bill Ackman  Defensive tackle New Mexico State
15 382 Charlie Jarvis  Running back Army
16 408 Willie Davenport  Flanker Southern
17 434 Larry Rentz  Defensive back Florida
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster

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1969 San Diego Chargers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Rookies in italics

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 14 Kansas City Chiefs L 9–27 0–1 San Diego Stadium 47,988 Recap
2 September 21 at Cincinnati Bengals L 20–34 0–2 Nippert Stadium 26,243 Recap
3 September 28 New York Jets W 34–27 1–2 San Diego Stadium 54,042 Recap
4 October 4 Cincinnati Bengals W 21–14 2–2 San Diego Stadium 52,748 Recap
5 October 11 at Miami Dolphins W 21–14 3–2 Miami Orange Bowl 34,585 Recap
6 October 19 at Boston Patriots W 13–10 4–2 Alumni Stadium 18,346 Recap
7 October 26 Oakland Raiders L 12–24 4–3 San Diego Stadium 54,008 Recap
8 November 2 at Denver Broncos L 0–13 4–4 Mile High Stadium 45,511 Recap
9 November 9 at Kansas City Chiefs L 3–27 4–5 Municipal Stadium 51,104 Recap
10 November 16 at Oakland Raiders L 16–21 4–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,372 Recap
11 November 23 Denver Broncos W 45–24 5–6 San Diego Stadium 34,664 Recap
12 November 27 at Houston Oilers W 21–17 6–6 Houston Astrodome 40,065 Recap
13 December 7 Boston Patriots W 28–18 7–6 San Diego Stadium 33,146 Recap
14 December 14 Buffalo Bills W 45–6 8–6 San Diego Stadium 47,582 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

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Week One: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 10 7727
Chargers 3 0 609

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 14
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21.1 °C), relative humidity 74%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 47,988
  • Referee: Bob Finley
  • Box score
Game information

Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals

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Week Two: San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 10 7020
Bengals 7 10 14334

at Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: September 21
  • Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 26,243
  • Box score
Game information

Week 3: vs. New York Jets

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Week Three: New York Jets at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 10 31427
Chargers 7 17 3734

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 28
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19.4 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 54,042
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • Box score
Game information

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

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Week Four: Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 7 0 7014
Chargers 7 7 0721

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 4
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19.4 °C), relative humidity 65%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 52,748
  • Box score
Game information

Week 5: at Miami Dolphins

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Week Five: San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 14 0721
Dolphins 0 0 7714

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 11
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26.1 °C), relative humidity 70%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 34,585
  • Box score
Game information

Week 6: at Boston Patriots

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Week Six: San Diego Chargers at Boston Patriots – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 3713
Patriots 7 0 0310

at Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

  • Date: October 19
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (12.8 °C), relative humidity 47%, wind 19 mph
  • Game attendance: 18,346
  • Referee: John McDonough
  • Box score
Game information

Week 7: vs. Oakland Raiders

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Week Seven: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders 7 7 7324
Chargers 3 3 0612

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 26
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17.2 °C), relative humidity 69%, wind 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 54,008
  • Referee: Walt Fitzgerald
  • Box score
Game information

Week 8: at Denver Broncos

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Week Eight: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 0 000
Broncos 0 0 13013

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: November 2
  • Game weather: 29 °F (−1.7 °C), relative humidity 83%, wind 6 mph, wind chill 24
  • Game attendance: 45,511
  • Box score
Game information

Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs

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Week Nine: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 0 003
Chiefs 0 10 10727

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 2
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (13.9 °C), relative humidity 65%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 51,104
  • Referee: Bob Finley
  • Box score
Game information

Week 10: at Oakland Raiders

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Week Ten: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 3616
Raiders 0 14 0721

at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 1:06 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14.4 °C), relative humidity 83%, wind 12 mph
  • Game attendance: 54,372
  • Referee: Jack Reader
  • Box score
Game information

Week 11: vs. Denver Broncos

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Week Eleven: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 10 7024
Chargers 14 3 21745

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 23
  • Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C), relative humidity 53%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 34,664
  • Box score
Game information

Week 12: at Houston Oilers

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Week Twelve: San Diego Chargers at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 7721
Oilers 7 10 0017

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Date: November 27
  • Game weather: N/A (game played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 40,065
  • Box score
Game information

Week 13: vs. Boston Patriots

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Week Thirteen: Boston Patriots at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Patriots 0 3 01518
Chargers 7 7 14028

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14.4 °C), relative humidity 50%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 33,146
  • Referee: Bob Finley
  • Box score
Game information

Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills

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Week Fourteen: Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 0 066
Chargers 10 14 71445

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 14
  • Game weather: 57 °F (13.9 °C), relative humidity 51%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 47,582
  • Box score
Game information

Standings

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AFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders 12 1 1 .923 7–1 377 242 W6
Kansas City Chiefs 11 3 0 .786 5–3 359 177 L1
San Diego Chargers 8 6 0 .571 2–6 288 276 W4
Denver Broncos 5 8 1 .385 3–5 297 344 W1
Cincinnati Bengals 4 9 1 .308 3–5 280 367 L5

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings of the AFL.

References

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  1. ^ "1969 AFL All-Pros". pro-football-reference.com.
  2. ^ "1969 AFL All-Stars". pro-football-reference.com.