1997 San Diego Chargers season

The 1997 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League (NFL), its 38th overall and was the first season under Kevin Gilbride. With veteran first-choice quarterback Stan Humphries missing half the season, the Chargers struggled and failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 1996. Backup quarterback Craig Whelihan went winless in seven starts, with the result that the Chargers lost their final eight games after a 4–4 start and scored only one touchdown in their final three games. The team finished with a 4–12 record and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

1997 San Diego Chargers season
Head coach	Kevin Gilbride
General manager	Bobby Beathard
Owner	Alex Spanos
Home field	Qualcomm Stadium
Results
Record	4–12
Division place	5th AFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	KR/PR Eric Metcalf LB Junior Seau

The team's stadium, Qualcomm Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXII at the end of the season.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1997 NFL Draft

1997 San Diego Chargers draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
2	45	Freddie Jones	Tight end	North Carolina
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1997 Undrafted Free Agents of note

Player	Position	College
Mike Maslowski	Linebacker	Wisconsin–La Crosse

Personnel

Staff

1997 San Diego Chargers staff

	Front office Chairman of the board – Alex Spanos President/vice chairman – Dean Spanos General manager – Bobby Beathard Director of player personnel – Billy Devaney Director of pro personnel – Rudy Feldman Coordinator of football operations – Marty Hurney Head coaches Head coach – Kevin Gilbride Assistant head coach – Nick Nicolau Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Mike Sheppard Running backs – Ollie Wilson Wide receivers – Tyrone Dixon Tight Ends – Bill MacDermott Offensive line – George DeLeone Offensive assistant – Mike Cavanaugh			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Joe Pascale Defensive line – Wayne Nunnely Linebackers – Jim Vechiarella Defensive backs – Rod Perry Defensive assistant – Kevin Lempa Special teams coaches Special teams – Frank Novak Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – John Hastings

[1]

Roster

1997 San Diego Chargers final roster

	Quarterbacks 11 Jim Everett 12 Stan Humphries  5 Craig Whelihan Running backs 33 Gary Brown 43 Kenny Bynum 34 Aaron Craver 41 Terrell Fletcher 21 Eric Metcalf Wide receivers 82 Charlie Jones 81 Tony Martin 85 Latario Rachal 80 Bryan Still Tight ends 89 Frank Hartley 88 Freddie Jones 87 Brian Roche		Offensive linemen 75 Tony Berti T 63 Joe Cocozzo G 73 Isaac Davis G 60 Greg Engel C 63 Raleigh McKenzie C 66 Jim Mills G 70 Vaughn Parker T 74 Raleigh Roundtree T 65 Troy Sienkiewicz T Defensive linemen 90 Marco Coleman DE 95 William Fuller DE 96 Norman Hand DT 99 Raylee Johnson DE 98 Shawn Lee DT 94 Mike Mohring DT 97 John Parrella DT		Linebackers 52 James Burgess 58 Lewis Bush 54 Kurt Gouveia 56 Patrick Sapp 55 Junior Seau Defensive backs 25 Paul Bradford 20 Mike Dumas FS 28 Dwayne Harper CB 37 Rodney Harrison SS 40 Mark Montreuil 29 Terrance Shaw CB 23 Gerome Williams Special teams 50 David Binn LS  2 Darren Bennett P  7 Greg Davis K		Reserve lists  3 John Carney K (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics active, inactive, practice squad

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance	Record
1	August 31, 1997	at New England Patriots	L 41–7	60,190	0-1
2	September 7, 1997	at New Orleans Saints	W 20–6	65,760	1-1
3	September 14, 1997	Carolina Panthers	L 26–7	63,149	1-2
4	September 21, 1997	at Seattle Seahawks	L 26–22	51,110	1-3
5	September 28, 1997	Baltimore Ravens	W 21–17	54,094	2-3
6	October 5, 1997	at Oakland Raiders	W 25–10	43,648	3-3
7	Bye
8	October 16, 1997	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 31–3	77,196	3-4
9	October 26, 1997	Indianapolis Colts	W 35–19	63,177	4-4
10	November 2, 1997	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 38–31	53,754	4-5
11	November 9, 1997	Seattle Seahawks	L 37–31	64,616	4-6
12	November 16, 1997	Oakland Raiders	L 38–13	65,714	4-7
13	November 23, 1997	at San Francisco 49ers	L 17–10	61,195	4-8
14	November 30, 1997	Denver Broncos	L 38–28	54,245	4-9
15	December 7, 1997	Atlanta Falcons	L 14–3	46,317	4-10
16	December 14, 1997	Kansas City Chiefs	L 29–7	54,594	4-11
17	December 21, 1997	at Denver Broncos	L 38–3	69,632	4-12

Standings

AFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
^(1) Kansas City Chiefs	13	3	0	.813	375	232	W6
^(4) Denver Broncos	12	4	0	.750	472	287	W1
Seattle Seahawks	8	8	0	.500	365	362	W2
Oakland Raiders	4	12	0	.250	324	419	L5
San Diego Chargers	4	12	0	.250	266	425	L8

References

1. 2009 San Diego Chargers Media Guide. pp. 326–327. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2010.