1986 San Diego Chargers season

The 1986 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 27th overall. the team failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 1985 Following a stagnant 1–7 start, Head Coach Don Coryell was fired and Al Saunders was named interim Head Coach. After the season, Saunders was named the permanent Head Coach and would hold the position through the end of the 1988 season. Leslie O'Neal was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.

1986 San Diego Chargers season
Head coach	Don Coryell (Weeks 1-8) Al Saunders (Weeks 9-16)
General manager	Johnny Sanders
Owner	Alex Spanos
Home field	Jack Murphy Stadium
Results
Record	4–12
Division place	5th AFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	RB Gary Anderson

Roster

1986 San Diego Chargers final roster

	Quarterbacks 14 Dan Fouts  9 Mark Herrmann 12 Tom Flick  7 Bruce Mathison Running backs 26 Lionel James 40 Gary Anderson 42 Curtis Adams 43 Tim Spencer 21 Buford McGee Wide receivers 89 Wes Chandler 18 Charlie Joiner 83 Trumaine Johnson 81 Timmie Ware Tight ends 88 Pete Holohan 80 Kellen Winslow 85 Eric Sievers		Offensive linemen 61 Ken Dallafior G 75 Curt DiGiacomo G 70 James Fitzpatrick G 68 Gary Kowalski T 74 Jim Lachey T 62 Don Macek C 60 Dennis McKnight G 77 Sam Claphan G 63 Jim Leonard G 72 Jeff Walker T/G Defensive linemen 91 Leslie O'Neal DE 99 Lee Williams DE 78 Chuck Ehin 92 Dee Hardison 90 Mack Moore 98 Terry Unrein 96 Lester Williams 93 Earl Wilson 96 Blaise Winter		Linebackers 56 Ty Allert 57 Thomas Benson ILB 51 Woodrow Lowe 55 Derrie Nelson 50 Gary Plummer ILB 54 Billy Ray Smith, Jr. OLB 53 Mike Douglass 52 Mark Fellows 59 Andy Hawkins 90 Fred Robinson 52 Angelo Snipes Defensive backs 22 Gill Byrd CB 37 Jeffery Dale SS 20 Wayne Davis CB 23 Danny Walters CB 25 Vencie Glenn FS 27 Daniel Hunter 32 Donald Brown CB 33 David Martin 33 John Sullivan 24 Ken Taylor CB 30 Kevin Wyatt Special teams 2 Ralf Mojsiejenko P 6 Rolf Benirschke K		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics active, inactive, practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 7, 1986	Miami Dolphins	W 50–28	57,726
2	September 14, 1986	at New York Giants	L 20–7	74,921
3	September 21, 1986	Washington Redskins	L 30–27	57,853
4	September 28, 1986	at Los Angeles Raiders	L 17–13	63,153
5	October 6, 1986	at Seattle Seahawks	L 33–7	63,207
6	October 12, 1986	Denver Broncos	L 31–14	55,662
7	October 19, 1986	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 42–41	55,767
8	October 26, 1986	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 23–7	41,469
9	November 2, 1986	Kansas City Chiefs	L 24–23	48,518
10	November 9, 1986	at Denver Broncos	W 9–3	75,012
11	November 16, 1986	Dallas Cowboys	L 24–21	55,622
12	November 20, 1986	Los Angeles Raiders	L 37–31	56,031
13	November 30, 1986	at Indianapolis Colts	W 17–3	47,950
14	December 7, 1986	Houston Oilers	W 27–0	40,103
15	December 14, 1986	Seattle Seahawks	L 34–24	47,096
16	December 21, 1986	at Cleveland Browns	L 47–17	68,505

Game summaries

Week 1 vs Dolphins

See also: 1986 Miami Dolphins season

Miami Dolphins (0–0) at San Diego Chargers (0–0)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	0	14	7	7	28
Chargers	17	9	14	10	50

at Jack Murphy Stadium • San Diego, California

• Date: September 7
• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
• Game attendance: 57,726
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV: NBC
• Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database

Game information
Dolphins Dan Marino 23/36, 290 Yds, 3 TD Lorenzo Hampton 6 Rush, 26 Yds Mark Clayton 5 Rec, 143 Yds, 2 TD Chargers Dan Fouts 23/35, 293 Yds, 3 TD Lionel James 10 Rush, 61 Yds Wes Chandler 6 Rec, 78 Yds, TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP MIA SD 1 10:52 Chargers Gary Anderson 18-yard touchdown reception from Dan Fouts, Rolf Benirschke kick good 0 7 1 2:17 Chargers 26-yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke 0 10 1 0:24 Chargers Tim Spencer 17-yard touchdown run, Rolf Benirschke kick good 0 17 2 12:00 Dolphins Mark Clayton 22-yard touchdown reception from Dan Marino, Fuad Reveiz kick good 7 17 2 4:02 Chargers Buford McGee 4-yard touchdown run, Rolf Benirschke kick no good 7 23 2 2:19 Dolphins Mark Clayton 49-yard touchdown reception from Dan Marino, Fuad Reveiz kick good 14 23 2 0:28 Chargers 36-yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke 14 26 3 9:22 Chargers Wes Chandler 7-yard touchdown reception from Dan Fouts, Rolf Benirschke kick good 14 33 3 6:47 Dolphins Nat Moore 6-yard touchdown reception from Dan Marino, Fuad Reveiz kick good 21 33 3 0:21 Chargers Pete Holohan 17-yard touchdown reception from Dan Fouts, Rolf Benirschke kick good 21 40 4 14:15 Chargers Buford McGee 4-yard touchdown run, Rolf Benirschke kick good 21 47 4 5:48 Chargers 36-yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke 21 50 4 0:58 Dolphins Nat Moore 17-yard touchdown reception from Dan Marino, Fuad Reveiz kick good 28 50 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 28 50

Standings

AFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Denver Broncos^(2)	11	5	0	.688	5–3	8–4	378	327	L1
Kansas City Chiefs^(5)	10	6	0	.625	5–3	9–5	358	326	W3
Seattle Seahawks	10	6	0	.625	5–3	7–5	366	293	W5
Los Angeles Raiders	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–5	323	346	L4
San Diego Chargers	4	12	0	.250	1–7	4–8	335	396	L2

Awards and honors

• Leslie O'Neal, Defensive Rookie of the Year