1975 San Diego Chargers season

The 1975 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's sixth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 16th overall. The team failed to improve on their 5–9 record in 1974. The Chargers lost their first eleven games amidst attendances under 30,000,[1] along with considerable off-field problems as several regular players wanted to leave[2] and the franchise knew it would not get the first choice in the 1976 draft due to the expansion Seahawks and Buccaneers.

1975 San Diego Chargers season
OwnerEugene V. Klein
Head coachTommy Prothro
General managerHarland Svare
Home fieldSan Diego Stadium
Results
Record2–12
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersT Russ Washington

By the beginning of December, the prospect of the first winless and tieless season since World War II loomed, and led to serious discussion of the Chargers’ plight in the press – although that press acknowledged that even with three games to go the Chargers had a genuine chance to win facing fellow cellar-dwellers the Jets and Kansas City.[3] The Chargers eventually finished 2–12, tying the New Orleans Saints for the NFL’s worst record. The team suffered badly from injuries, most critically running back Don Woods, who had been AFC Rookie of the Year in 1974, but played only the first four games in this season.[4] 1975 would remain as the Chargers’ poorest until a 1–15 disaster in 2000.

NFL Draft
Main article: 1975 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
1 8 Gary Johnson Defensive tackle Grambling State
1 22 Mike Williams Defensive back LSU
2 30 Louie Kelcher Defensive tackle SMU
2 33 Fred Dean Defensive end Louisiana Tech
3 73 Mike Fuller Defensive back Auburn

Roster
1975 San Diego Chargers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 21, 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers L 37–0
35,853
2 September 28, 1975 at Houston Oilers L 33–17
33,765
3 October 5, 1975 Oakland Raiders L 6–0
31,095
4 October 12, 1975 Los Angeles Rams L 13–10
37,382
5 October 19, 1975 Kansas City Chiefs L 12–10
26,469
6 October 26, 1975 at Oakland Raiders L 25–0
42,796
7 November 1, 1975 at New York Giants L 35–24
52,032
8 November 9, 1975 New England Patriots L 33–19
24,349
9 November 16, 1975 Denver Broncos L 27–17
26,048
10 November 23, 1975 at Minnesota Vikings L 28–13
43,737
11 November 30, 1975 at Denver Broncos L 13–10
44,982
12 December 7, 1975 at Kansas City Chiefs W 28–20
46,888
13 December 15, 1975 New York Jets W 24–16
49,706
14 December 21, 1975 at Cincinnati Bengals L 47–17
46,474

Standings
AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders(2) 11 3 0 .786 5–1 8–3 375 255 W1
Denver Broncos 6 8 0 .429 3–3 4–7 254 307 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 5 9 0 .357 3–3 3–8 282 341 L4
San Diego Chargers 2 12 0 .143 1–5 2–9 189 345 L1

References
  1. Asher, Mark; ‘Shrinking Sports Picture’; The Washington Post, December 3, 1975, p. D8
  2. McDonough, Will; ‘Whither Chargers? Hadley Withered’; Boston Globe; November 8, 1975, p. 83
  3. Anderson, Dave; ‘ The Chargers Are 0–11, Going on 0–14’; The New York Times, December 2, 1975, p. 51
  4. Power, Don; ‘ Chargers winless and injured, but still tough, says Fairbanks’; Boston Globe; November 6, 1975, p. 34
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