1983 San Diego Chargers season
OwnerEugene V. Klein
General managerJohnny Sanders
Head coachDon Coryell
Home fieldJack Murphy Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place5th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-ProsNone[2]

The 1983 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League (NFL) and its 24th overall. The Chargers fell from their 1982 6–3 record to 6–10. It was their first losing season since 1976, to date the most points the Chargers have surrendered in a sixteen-game season, and began an era in the wilderness for the Chargers, who would not place higher than third in the AFC West, nor win more than eight games in a season, until 1992.

Despite San Diego's disappointing 6–10 record, they led the NFL in passing yardage for the sixth consecutive season, which remains an NFL record.

This was the last season for the Chargers before Gene Klein; the team's owner since 1966, sold the team to Alex Spanos.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1983 NFL Draft
1983 San Diego Chargers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 5 Billy Ray Smith  Linebacker Stanford
1 20 Gary Anderson *  Running back Arkansas Signed for Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL); joined the Chargers in 1985
1 22 Gill Byrd *  Cornerback San Jose State
4 95 Danny Walters  Cornerback Arkansas
6 141 Trumaine Johnson  Wide receiver Grambling State Signed for Chicago Blitz (USFL); joined the Chargers in 1985
7 192 Bill Elko  Nose tackle Louisiana State
8 202 Earnest Jackson *  Running back Texas A&M
9 245 Mike Green  Linebacker Oklahoma State
10 272 Bruce Mathison  Quarterback Nebraska
11 303 Tim Kearse  Wide receiver San Jose State
11 307 Tim Spencer  Running back Ohio State Signed for Chicago Blitz (USFL); joined the Chargers in 1985
12 314 Billy Blaylock  Defensive back Tennessee Tech
12 329 Chuck Ehin  Nose tackle Brigham Young
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster

1983 San Diego Chargers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 4 New York Jets L 29–41 0–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 51,004 Recap
2 September 12 at Kansas City Chiefs W 17–14 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium 62,150 Recap
3 September 18 at Seattle Seahawks L 31–34 1–2 Kingdome 61,714 Recap
4 September 25 Cleveland Browns L 24–30 (OT) 1–3 Jack Murphy Stadium 49,482 Recap
5 October 2 at New York Giants W 41–34 2–3 Giants Stadium 73,892 Recap
6 October 9 Seattle Seahawks W 28–21 3–3 Jack Murphy Stadium 49,132 Recap
7 October 16 at New England Patriots L 21–37 3–4 Sullivan Stadium 59,016 Recap
8 October 23 at Denver Broncos L 6–14 3–5 Mile High Stadium 74,581 Recap
9 October 31 Washington Redskins L 24–27 3–6 Jack Murphy Stadium 46,114 Recap
10 November 6 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–26 3–7 Three Rivers Stadium 58,191 Recap
11 November 13 Dallas Cowboys W 24–23 4–7 Jack Murphy Stadium 46,192 Recap
12 November 20 at St. Louis Cardinals L 14–44 4–8 Busch Memorial Stadium 40,644 Recap
13 November 27 Denver Broncos W 31–7 5–8 Jack Murphy Stadium 43,650 Recap
14 December 1 Los Angeles Raiders L 10–42 5–9 Jack Murphy Stadium 47,760 Recap
15 December 11 Kansas City Chiefs W 41–38 6–9 Jack Murphy Stadium 35,510 Recap
16 December 18 at Los Angeles Raiders L 14–30 6–10 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 57,325 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.


Game summaries

Week 1: vs. New York Jets

Week One: New York Jets at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 13 72141
Chargers 7 0 91329

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

[3][4]

Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week Two: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 0 7717
Chiefs 0 7 0714

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

[5][6]

Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks

Week Three: San Diego Chargers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 3 02131
Seahawks 14 3 10734

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 18
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: N/A (game played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 61,714
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
  • Box score
Game information

[7][8]

Week 4: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week Four: Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Browns 7 7 73630
Chargers 3 7 140024

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 73 °F (22.8 °C), relative humidity 69%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 49,482
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Bob Chandler
  • Box score
Game information

[9][10]

Week 5: at New York Giants

Week Five: San Diego Chargers at New York Giants – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 13 14 7741
Giants 0 17 71034

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: October 2
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), relative humidity 86%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 73,892
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
  • Box Score
Game information

Gill Byrd had an interception for San Diego.[11][12]

Week 6: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week Six: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 14 0021
Chargers 0 7 71428

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 12 mph
  • Game attendance: 49,132
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Reggie Rucker
  • Box score
Game information

[13][14]

Week 7: at New England Patriots

Week Seven: San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 14 0021
Patriots 3 7 32437

at Sullivan Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Game information

[15][16]

Week 8: at Denver Broncos

Week Seven: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 306
Broncos 0 0 01414

at Mile High Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Game information

[17][18]

Week 9: vs. Washington Redskins

Week Nine: Washington Redskins at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 7 3 71027
Chargers 7 0 01724

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 73%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 46,114
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (NBC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
  • Box score
Game information

[19][20]

Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Ten: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 003
Steelers 17 3 3326

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 11 mph
  • Game attendance: 58,191
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas and Bob Trumpy
  • Box score
Game information

[21][22]

Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week Eleven: Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 0 6 31423
Chargers 7 10 7024

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

[23][24]

Week 12: at St. Louis Cardinals

Week Twelve: San Diego Chargers at St. Louis Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 0714
Cardinals 7 30 7044

at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), relative humidity 80%, wind 21 mph
  • Game attendance: 40,644
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas and Bob Trumpy
  • Box score
Game information

[25][26]

Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos

Week Thirteen: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 0 007
Chargers 14 7 01031

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 27
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), relative humidity 42%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 43,650
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Gene Washington
  • Box score
Game information

[27][28]

Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

Week Fourteen: Los Angeles Raiders at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 14 28042
Chargers 7 3 0010

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 1
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), relative humidity 64%, wind 12 mph
  • Game attendance: 47,760
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
  • Box score
Game information

[29][30]

Week 15: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week Fifteen: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 7 101438
Chargers 10 14 14341

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 35,510
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese
  • Box score
Game information

[31][32]

Week 16: at Los Angeles Raiders

Week Sixteen: San Diego Chargers at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 0 7014
Raiders 7 6 31430

at Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: December 18
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), relative humidity 75%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 57,325
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Reggie Rucker
  • Box score
Game information

[33][34]

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Raiders(1) 12 4 0 .750 6–2 10–2 442 338 W1
Seattle Seahawks(4) 9 7 0 .563 5–3 8–4 403 397 W2
Denver Broncos(5) 9 7 0 .563 3–5 9–5 302 327 L1
San Diego Chargers 6 10 0 .375 4–4 4–8 358 462 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 6 10 0 .375 2–6 4–8 386 367 W1

References

  1. ^ "1983 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "1983 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. ^ Cobbs, Chris (September 5, 1983). "McNeil's too much, Fouts not enough as Chargers fall to Jets". Los Angeles Times. p. III-6.
  4. ^ 1983 week 1 gamebook, Jets at Chargers. September 4, 1983.
  5. ^ Cobbs, Chris (September 13, 1983). "And so it came to pass that Chargers win". Los Angeles Times. pp. III-1, III-6.
  6. ^ 1983 week 2 gamebook, Chargers at Chiefs. September 12, 1983.
  7. ^ Cobbs, Chris (September 19, 1983). "Grounded again! Seahawks, 34–31". Los Angeles Times. pp. III-1, III-13.
  8. ^ 1983 week 3 gamebook, Chargers at Seahawks. September 18, 1983.
  9. ^ Schudel, Jeff (September 26, 1983). "Browns nip Chargers on Holt's score". Mansfield News-Journal. pp. 1-C 4-C.
  10. ^ 1983 week 4 gamebook, Browns at Chargers. September 25, 1983.
  11. ^ Cobbs, Chris (October 3, 1983). "Luther guns down the Giants, notches a Chargers win, 41–34". Los Angeles Times. p. III-5.
  12. ^ 1983 week 5 gamebook, Chargers at Giants. October 2, 1983.
  13. ^ Cobbs, Chris (October 10, 1983). "Defense has a big hand in Chargers big rally". Los Angeles Times. p. III-7.
  14. ^ 1983 week 6 gamebook, Seahawks at Chargers. October 9, 1983.
  15. ^ Cobbs, Chris (October 17, 1983). "Patriots stop Fouts on ground and rally to win". Los Angeles Times. p. III-6.
  16. ^ 1983 week 7 gamebook, Chargers at Patriots. October 16, 1983.
  17. ^ "Denver drops limping Chargers". Sacramento Bee. AP. October 14, 1983. p. D3.
  18. ^ 1983 week 8 gamebook, Chargers at Broncos. October 23, 1983.
  19. ^ "Comeback derailed". Tulare Advance-Register. UPI. November 1, 1983. p. 6.
  20. ^ 1983 week 9 gamebook, Washington at Chargers. October 31, 1983.
  21. ^ Cobbs, Chris (November 7, 1983). "Without Fouts, Chargers no match for Steelers". Los Angeles Times. p. III-8.
  22. ^ 1983 week 10 gamebook, Chargers at Steelers. November 6, 1983.
  23. ^ Dilbeck, Steve (November 14, 1983). "Chargers write new script for Cowboys". San Bernardino County Sun. pp. C-1, C-6.
  24. ^ 1983 week 11 gamebook, Cowboys at Chargers. November 13, 1983.
  25. ^ "Cardinals, 44, Chargers 14". Sacramento Bee. November 21, 1983. p. D2.
  26. ^ 1983 week 12 gamebook, Chargers at Cardinals. November 20, 1983.
  27. ^ "Fouts returns, so does Air Coryell; Seattle, Atlanta take wild OT wins". Fresno Bee. November 28, 1983. p. C2.
  28. ^ 1983 week 13 gamebook, Broncos at Chargers. November 27, 1983.
  29. ^ "Raiders take the charge out of San Diego". Ventura County Star. UPI. December 2, 1983. p. C-1.
  30. ^ 1983 week 14 gamebook, Raiders at Chargers. December 1, 1983.
  31. ^ Cobbs, Chris (December 12, 1983). "Here's the catch: Winslow gets rest, Chargers get Chiefs". Los Angeles Times. p. III-2.
  32. ^ 1983 week 15 gamebook, Chiefs at Chargers. December 11, 1983.
  33. ^ "Raiders take care of Chargers to make sure they can stay home". Thousand Oaks Star. Associated Press. December 19, 1983. p. 11.
  34. ^ 1983 week 16 gamebook, Chargers at Cardinals. December 18, 1983.

External links

Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers seasons
1983 NFL season
Categories