2002 San Diego Chargers season
OwnerAlex Spanos
Head coachMarty Schottenheimer
General managerJohn Butler
Home fieldQualcomm Stadium
Results
Record8–8
Division place3rd AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersRB LaDainian Tomlinson
LB Junior Seau
LB Donnie Edwards
AP All-ProsRB LaDainian Tomlinson (2nd team)
LB Donnie Edwards (2nd team)

The 2002 season was the San Diego Chargers' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall and their first under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Their stadium, Qualcomm Stadium, hosted Super Bowl XXXVII at the end of the season, but the Chargers' failure to secure a playoff berth marked the 18th straight season that the Super Bowl did not include the team in whose region the game was being played. Their division was reduced to four teams at the start of the season, with the Seattle Seahawks moving to the NFC. Despite going into their bye week at 6–1, the Chargers won just two of their nine games after the break and missed the playoffs.

Offseason

Additions Subtractions
TE Stephen Alexander (Redskins) TE Steve Heiden (Browns)
LB Donnie Edwards (Chiefs) LB John Holecek (Falcons)
G Bob Hallen (Falcons) LB Sam Rogers (Falcons)
C Cory Raymer (Redskins) G Raleigh Roundtree (Cardinals)
DT Jason Fisk (Titans) TE Freddie Jones (Cardinals)
SS Keith Lyle (Redskins) G DeMingo Graham (Texans)

NFL Draft

Main article: 2002 NFL Draft
2002 San Diego Chargers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 5 Quentin Jammer  Cornerback Texas
2 39 Toniu Fonoti  Guard Nebraska
2 48 Reche Caldwell  Wide receiver Florida
3 71 Ben Leber  Linebacker Kansas State
4 103 Justin Peelle  Tight end Oregon
5 142 Terry Charles  Wide receiver Portland State
6 178 Matt Anderle  Tackle Minnesota
7 216 Seth Burford  Quarterback Cal Poly
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

2002 undrafted free agents of note
Player Position College
Jason Ball Center New Hampshire
Jesse Chatman Running back Eastern Washington
Vernon Fox Safety Fresno State
Josh Norman Tight end Oklahoma

Personnel

Staff

2002 San Diego Chargers staff
Front office
  • chairman of the board – Alex Spanos
  • President/chief executive officer – Dean Spanos
  • Executive vice president – Michael Spanos
  • Executive vice president/general manager – John Butler
  • Assistant general manager/director of pro personnel – A. J. Smith
  • Vice president of football operations – Ed McGuire
  • Director of player personnel – Buddy Nix
  • Director of college scouting – Jimmy Raye

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Dave Redding
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Matt Schiotz

[1]

Roster

2002 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

  • 53 Luke Butkus C
  • 65 Zack Quaccia C
  • 67 Mike Malano C/G
  • 87 Ramondo North WR


Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

In addition to their regular games with AFC West rivals, the Chargers played teams from the AFC East and NFC West as per the schedule rotation, and also played intraconference games against the Texans and the Bengals based on divisional positions from 2001.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 8 at Cincinnati Bengals W 34–6 1–0 Paul Brown Stadium 53,705
2 September 15 Houston Texans W 24–3 2–0 Qualcomm Stadium 56,098
3 September 22 at Arizona Cardinals W 23–15 3–0 Sun Devil Stadium 28,980
4 September 29 New England Patriots W 21–14 4–0 Qualcomm Stadium 66,463
5 October 6 at Denver Broncos L 9–26 4–1 Invesco Field 75,065
6 October 13 Kansas City Chiefs W 35–34 5–1 Qualcomm Stadium 58,995
7 October 20 at Oakland Raiders W 27–21(OT) 6–1 Network Associates Coliseum 60,974
8 Bye
9 November 3 New York Jets L 13–44 6–2 Qualcomm Stadium 59,772
10 November 10 at St. Louis Rams L 24–28 6–3 Edward Jones Dome 66,093
11 November 17 San Francisco 49ers W 20–17(OT) 7–3 Qualcomm Stadium 67,161
12 November 24 at Miami Dolphins L 3–30 7–4 Pro Player Stadium 73,138
13 December 1 Denver Broncos W 30–27(OT) 8–4 Qualcomm Stadium 66,357
14 December 8 Oakland Raiders L 7–27 8–5 Qualcomm Stadium 67,968
15 December 15 at Buffalo Bills L 13–20 8–6 Ralph Wilson Stadium 61,838
16 December 22 at Kansas City Chiefs L 22–24 8–7 Arrowhead Stadium 77,899
17 December 29 Seattle Seahawks L 28–31(OT) 8–8 Qualcomm Stadium 52,159

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 4: vs. New England Patriots

Week 4: New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers
1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 7 0014
Chargers 7 7 7021

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 9: vs. New York Jets

Week 9: New York Jets at San Diego Chargers
1 2 34Total
Jets 14 17 31044
Chargers 0 7 6013

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 12: at Miami Dolphins

Week 12: San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins
1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 0 003
Dolphins 10 10 7330

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 15: at Buffalo Bills

Week 15: San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills
1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 7 0313
Bills 7 6 0720

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) Oakland Raiders 11 5 0 .688 4–2 9–3 450 304 W2
Denver Broncos 9 7 0 .563 3–3 5–7 392 344 W1
San Diego Chargers 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 333 367 L4
Kansas City Chiefs 8 8 0 .500 2–4 6–6 467 399 L1

Playoffs

The Chargers did not make the playoffs, but they had a chance to clinch a wild card spot with victory over the Seahawks in Week 17, provided that the Browns lost to the Falcons; however, the Browns beat the Falcons, making the Chargers' loss to the Seahawks immaterial.

References

  1. ^ 2012 San Diego Chargers Media Guide. pp. 263–264. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
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