1966 San Diego Chargers season

The 1966 Season was the 7th season for the San Diego Chargers as a professional AFL franchise; the team failed to improve on their 9–2–3 record from 1965. In the team's final season at Balboa Stadium, the Chargers went 7–6–1 and finished in third place in the AFL West Division. The team would move to San Diego Stadium for the following season. It was also the first season to feature an AFL-NFL World Championship Game now known as the Super Bowl.

1966 San Diego Chargers season
Head coach	Sid Gillman
General manager	Sid Gillman
Owner	Eugene V. Klein
Home field	Balboa Stadium
Results
Record	7–6–1
Division place	3rd Western Division
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

For the 1966 season only, the Chargers changed the color of the lightning bolt on their helmets from yellow to blue. The yellow bolt returned the following season.[1]

Roster

1966 San Diego Chargers final roster

	Quarterbacks 21 John Hadl 13 Steve Tensi Running backs 23 Paul Lowe 22 Keith Lincoln 37 Gene Foster FB 32 Jim Allison (American football) FB Wide receivers 19 Lance Alworth 27 Gary Garrison Tight ends 38 Jacque MacKinnon 83 Willie Frazier		Offensive linemen 74 Ron Mix 78 Walt Sweeney 65 Sam Gruneisen Defensive linemen 56 Steve DeLong		Linebackers 66 Rick Redman Defensive backs 40 Joe Beauchamp CB 45 Speedy Duncan CB 33 Kenny Graham S 47 Bud Whitehead S Special teams 39 Dick Van Raaphorst K		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics active, inactive, practice squad

Season schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	attendance
1	September 4, 1966	Buffalo Bills	W 27–7	27,572
2	September 10, 1966	Boston Patriots	W 24–0	29,539
3	September 25, 1966	at Oakland Raiders	W 29–20	37,183
4	October 2, 1966	Miami Dolphins	W 44–10	26,444
5	October 8, 1966	at New York Jets	L 17–16	63,497
6	October 16, 1966	at Buffalo Bills	T 17–17	45,169
7	October 23, 1966	at Boston Patriots	L 35–17	32,371
8	October 30, 1966	Denver Broncos	W 24–17	25,819
9	November 6, 1966	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 24–14	40,986
10	November 13, 1966	Oakland Raiders	L 41–19	26,230
11	November 27, 1966	at Denver Broncos	L 20–17	24,860
12	December 4, 1966	at Houston Oilers	W 28–22	17,569
13	December 11, 1966	New York Jets	W 42–27	25,712
14	December 18, 1966	Kansas City Chiefs	L 27–17	28,548

Standings

AFL Western Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
Kansas City Chiefs	11	2	1	.846	5–1	448	276	W3
Oakland Raiders	8	5	1	.615	4–2	315	288	W1
San Diego Chargers	7	6	1	.538	2–4	335	284	L1
Denver Broncos	4	10	0	.286	1–5	196	381	L2

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

1. SportsLogos.net: San Diego Chargers

External links

• Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1966 San Diego Chargers