As of 2010, the team's policy was to have the
Chargers Hall of Fame committee evaluate candidates for a player's number to retire after the player has retired from the league after five years. The committee consisted of Chargers Executive Vice President
A. G. Spanos, Chargers public relations director Bill Johnston,
San Diego Hall of Champions founder
Bob Breitbard, and the presidents of the San Diego Sports Commission and the Chargers Backers Fan Club. There are few recognized guidelines in sports regarding retiring numbers, and the NFL has no specific league policy. "You have to have enough numbers for players to wear," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.[3]
History
The Chargers have rarely retired numbers.[4] In 2006, The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, "The [Chargers] tend to honor their heritage haphazardly."[5]Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle
Ron Mix in 1969 was the first Charger to have his number retired after he announced he was quitting football.[3][6] However, he came out of retirement in 1971 to play for the
Oakland Raiders.[7] Then-Chargers owner
Gene Klein, who hated the Raiders, unretired the number.[8]
Dan Fouts had his
No. 14 retired in 1988, a year after his retirement.[9] He was the first NFL quarterback to top the 4,000-
yard passing mark in three consecutive seasons. He set a then-NFL single-season passing record in 1981, throwing for a career-high 4,802 yards.[10] At the retirement of his number, Fouts asked for "more recognition of former players and a warmer relationship between Charger players and management. I'd like to see
Lance Alworth's number retired, too. We've had some great players here."[11]
Alworth's No. 19 was retired in 2005, 35 years after he last played for the Chargers and 27 years after he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[5][9] He was still one of the most popular athletes in San Diego history. Nicknamed Bambi for his speed and graceful leaping skills, Alworth was a pioneer for the Chargers and the AFL in the 1960s. He was selected
All-AFL seven times from 1963 to 1969 and averaged more than 50 catches and 1,000 yards a year with San Diego.[12][13] He retired with the most career yards (9,584) in team history, a record that held for almost 45 years.[a]
The Union-Tribune in 2003 wrote that the Chargers no longer retired numbers, but Chargers president
Dean Spanos said
Junior Seau might be an exception. "If there's going to be another number retired, that's the one that's going to be retired," Spanos said.[15] Seau made 12 consecutive
Pro Bowl appearances with San Diego.[16] He initially retired from the NFL in a 2006 ceremony with the Chargers, and the team planned to retire his number—as early as 2011—after his anticipated induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[17] However, Seau signed with the
New England Patriots four days later, and continued playing until 2009.[18][19] Seau's No. 55 was retired in 2012 posthumously at his memorial.[8][20][21] "His play on the field combined with his leadership and charisma became the face of this team for more than a decade. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor," said Spanos.[16]
After
LaDainian Tomlinson signed a one-day contract and retired as a Charger in 2012, Dean Spanos said his number would be retired in the future.[22] On November 22, 2015, the Chargers retired Tomlinson's No. 21.
In 2020, Chargers equipment manager Bob Wick said that he tried to keep
Charlie Joiner's No. 18 out of circulation,[3] even though it had not been officially retired.[8][23] The Chargers retired Joiner's No. 18 and
Kellen Winslow's No. 80 in 2023.[24]
^Number was un-retired by the Chargers in 1971 due to then Chargers owner Gene Klein's dislike towards the Raiders (where Mix had been played for).[30]
^Magee, Jerry (November 20, 2005). "Receiving his due". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Alworth averaged more than 50 catches and 1,000 yards a year with the Chargers.