The 1996 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 37th, its 27th in the National Football League (NFL), and its 34th in San Diego.
The season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 1995. The Chargers fell back by one game and missed the playoffs by that margin. It was Bobby Ross's final season as the team's head coach, as he left due to "philosophical differences" with general manager Bobby Beathard. He had posted a 47–33 record over five seasons, going 3–3 in the playoffs.
Natrone Means had been let go following his injury the previous season. In his place, San Diego tried a running-back-by-committee approach featuring Leonard Russell, Aaron Hayden and Terrell Fletcher. This yielded 186 rushing yards in week one, but only four further 100-yard games throughout the season. Hayden was seldom used as the year went on — Russell managed 713 yards and 7 touchdowns, but the Chargers' average of 3.2 yards per rush was the league's worst. Changes on the offensive line may have contributed: veteran tackle Stan Brock retired during the offseason, and center Courtney Hall suffered a career-ending injury mid-season.
Tony Martin continued to be the star receiver, catching 85 passes for 1171 yards. He managed 14 touchdowns, joint-most in the NFL, and tying Lance Alworth's club record. Ronnie Harmon was replaced as a pass-catching back by Terrell Fletcher, who caught only two fewer passes (61), but for 197 fewer yards (476). Stan Humphries was again the starting quarterback, but continued to sustain frequent injuries and missed three games.
With six time Pro Bowl defensive end Leslie O'Neal having left after a decade with the club, Junior Seau stepped up to be the club leader in both sacks and tackles (7.0 and 138 respectively). He also contributed two interceptions, forced one fumble and recovered three. Rodney Harrison continued to improve, leading the team with five interceptions and coming second to Seau with 125 tackles. Darren Bennett averaged 45.6 yards per punt, third best in the league.
For the second consecutive year, the Chargers suffered an offseason tragedy. Running back Rodney Culver was among the 110 victims of ValuJet Flight 592.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance 1 July 30 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers W 20–10 1–0 Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan) 2 August 6 at Minnesota Vikings L 20–23 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 3 August 13 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–16 1–2 3Com Park 4 August 18 Arizona Cardinals W 32–10 2–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 5 August 25 at St. Louis Rams L 34–37 2–3 Trans World Dome
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 1 Seattle Seahawks W 29–7 1–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 58,780 2 September 8 Cincinnati Bengals W 27–14 2–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 55,880 3 September 15 at Green Bay Packers L 10–42 2–1 Lambeau Field 60,584 4 September 22 at Oakland Raiders W 40–34 3–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 49,097 5 September 29 Kansas City Chiefs W 22–19 4–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 59,384 6 October 6 at Denver Broncos L 17–28 4–2 Mile High Stadium 75,058 7 Bye 8 Oakland Raiders L 14–23 4–3 Jack Murphy Stadium 62,530 9 October 27 at Seattle Seahawks L 13–32 4–4 Kingdome 38,143 10 November 3 at Indianapolis Colts W 26–19 5–4 RCA Dome 58,484 11 Detroit Lions W 27–21 6–4 Jack Murphy Stadium 60,425 12 November 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–25 6–5 Jack Murphy Stadium 57,526 13 November 24 at Kansas City Chiefs W 28–14 7–5 Arrowhead Stadium 69,472 14 December 1 New England Patriots L 7–45 7–6 Jack Murphy Stadium 59,209 15 December 8 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–16 7–7 Three Rivers Stadium 56,368 16 at Chicago Bears L 14–27 7–8 Soldier Field 49,763 17 December 22 Denver Broncos W 16–10 8–8 Jack Murphy Stadium 46,801 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Touchdowns by Tony Martin and Leonard Russell, plus five field goals by John Carney saw the Chargers to an easy win on opening day. The running attack gave what was to prove its strongest showing, with Leonard Russell, Aaron Hayden and Terrell Fletcher splitting the carries, and each contributing to a team total of 186 yards (the Chargers would gain 100+ yards on the ground only four more times all year). When the Seahawks tried to play catch-up in the second half, San Diego's defense capitalised with four turnovers.
Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Chargers started strongly, going 76 and 71 yards on consecutive drives capped by touchdowns for Russell and Martin. However, the Bengals came back into it before halftime when Carl Pickens scored; Humphries then threw an interception with San Diego poised to respond. Up 17-7 through three-quarters, the Chargers then got two big plays to put the game away. Firstly, Darrien Gordon's 64-yard punt return set up a short field goal; on the Bengals' next play from scrimmage Kurt Gouveia intercepted Jeff Blake, and Russell soon punched it in from the one.
Week 3: at Green Bay Packers
The Chargers were brought back down to Earth, as the eventual Super Bowl champions dominated in all phases of the game. Edgar Bennett scored on the Packers' opening drive, and Brett Favre followed up with 3 touchdown passes as Green Bay built a 28–3 lead through three-quarters. San Diego then had a brief revival, with Willie Clark recovering a Favre fumble to set up a Humphries-to-Martin TD pass, and Lewis Bush recovering a Bennett fumble in Packers' territory on the next play. However, LeRoy Butler ended the threat with an interception and 90-yard touchdown return, and there was still time for Desmond Howard to add a special teams touchdown on a 65-yard punt return.
This was San Diego's heaviest loss since a 48-10 reverse against San Francisco eight seasons earlier.
Week 4: at Oakland Raiders
San Diego bounced back with victory in a back-and-forth shootout. The Chargers broke the game open late in the 1st quarter when Stan Humphries threw touchdown on three consecutive pass attempts. Firstly, a 35-yard punt return by Darrien Gordon set up a 27-yard scoring drive, with Humphries finding Terrell Fletcher to open the scoring. Kurt Gouveia intercepted Jeff Hostetler's next pass, leading to an even shorter drive, with Martin scoring the Chargers' second touchdown. Shortly afterwards, Rodney Harrison's fumble recovery was followed immediately by another Humphries-to-Martin score, from 41 yards out. The three touchdowns came within a span of only 3:05.
Hostetler then led a Raider comeback, throwing three touchdowns during the 2nd and 3rd quarters, while the Chargers could only manage a pair of Carney kicks. Down only 27–21, Oakland drive inside the San Diego 10, but the drive stalled and Cole Ford missed a 25-yard field goal as the 3rd quarter ended.
The Chargers then drove 80 yards the other way, Humphries finding Martin for another touchdown. Hostetler quickly drove back into scoring position, but Willie Clark intercepted his 4th down pass and ran it back 83 yards for a 40–21 lead with 3:40 to play. Oakland managed two quick touchdowns either side of an onside kick recovery, before Alfred Pupunu recovered a further onside attempt to clinch the win.
Humphries completed 18 of 25 passes for 226 yards, with a career-high four touchdowns and no interceptions. Martin had 10 receptions for 138 yards and three scores. San Diego set a club record for most yardage conceded in a win with 553; they managed only 321 themselves but won the turnover battle 3–0.
Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
A pair of Junior Seau interceptions helped the Chargers past the previously undefeated Chiefs. In a battle of field goals, Seau's first pick led to Carney's second, and a 6–0 lead. However, a fumbled punt return by Darrien Gordon set up the first of three successes by Pete Stoyanovich in the 2nd quarter.
After Carney tied the game at 9–9 in the 3rd quarter, Gordon atoned for his earlier error with an 81-yard punt return touchdown. However, Marcus Allen's 59-yard reception on the next play from scrimmage set an immediate Chiefs' response. Following a further exchange of field goals, Seau intercepted Steve Bono for the second time, and Carney kicked the winner from 33 yards out with 3:17 to play. A Seau sack was then instrumental in forcing Kansas City to turn the ball over on downs, but Russell fumbled on the next play. Given a bonus chance, Bono led his team into field goal range, but Chris Mims blocked the game-tying attempt.
The nine successful field goals were a record (since surpassed). Following this result, Denver, San Diego and Kansas City were tied atop the AFC West with 4-1 records.
Week 6: at Denver Broncos
A collapse from 17-0 ahead cost San Diego victory in a pivotal game. Up 3–0 in the second quarter, Rodney Harrison's first interception of the season set up a short touchdown pass from Humphries to Terrell Fletcher; Humphries found Martin for another score shortly afterwards. John Elway responded immediately, leading his team 80 yards in just five plays, the last 20 coming on a 20-yard strike to Shannon Sharpe shortly before halftime.
In the 3rd quarter, the same pairing hooked up twice more, putting Denver four points ahead. San Diego tried to respond, but Humphries threw incomplete on 4th and 7 at the Broncos' 38, and Elway soon put the game away with his fourth touchdown pass, this time to Ed McCaffrey. This result put Denver alone atop the AFC West, and they wouldn't lose again until after they'd clinched home field advantage through the playoffs.
Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders
San Diego lost both the game and their starting QB on Monday Night Football. With his side down 7–0 in the 1st quarter, Humphries was hit by Chester McGlockton at the end of a 5-yard scramble and dislocated his left shoulder; backup Sean Salisbury came in and finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Martin. Salisbury later fumbled while being sacked by McGlockton in Raider territory, and Oakland kicked a field goal for a 20–7 lead; San Diego bounced back quickly, with Salisbury and Martin hooking up from 12 yards out to pull it back to 20–14. However, Darrien Gordon muffed a punt in the final four minutes, and Oakland hit the clinching field goal.
Salisbury finished 22 of 35, for 235 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Week 9: at Seattle Seahawks
San Diego's five-game winning streak against the Seahawks came to an end in a one-sided encounter. The Chargers were missing their leaders on both sides of the ball, with Seau and Humphries out injured. Seattle running back Chris Warren took advantage of the former's absence with 146 yards and a touchdown, while Salisbury struggled in his first start, throwing four interceptions (one of those a pick six), against a single touchdown.
Week 10: at Indianapolis Colts
Five turnovers helped San Diego to a much-needed win. Colts' QB Jim Harbaugh was intercepted by four different players in the first half — he had thrown only two all season coming in — and the Chargers converted the errors into a Charlie Jones touchdown reception and a pair of field goals. These were the first in a sequence of eight fields, four by each team, culminating in a Colts 20-yarder that made it 19–12; Indianapolis almost had a touchdown before that last kick, but punter Darren Bennett brought down Ray Buchanan at the nine after an 82-yard return.
Indianapolis were driving at the start of the 4th quarter, but Junior Seau sacked Harbaugh, causing a fumble which Chris Mims recovered. Tony Martin doubled the lead six plays later. The Colts then embarked on a 17 play drive, but turned the ball over on downs after having 1st and goal at the one. They did score on their next drive, but San Diego then picked up a pair of 1st downs to kill all but five seconds of the clock.