The 2009 season was the San Diego Chargers' 40th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 50th since becoming founding members of the American Football League. The Chargers improved upon their regular season record of 8–8 in 2008 and won their division for the fourth straight year and fifth time in six seasons. They finished the regular season with a 13–3 record, the second best winning percentage in franchise history but were upset in the Divisional Playoffs by the New York Jets. It was also Norv Turner's best regular season record as head coach. Also, this was the end of an era as future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson joined the New York Jets following the season, ending his 9-year tenure as a Charger. As of 2025, this is the most recent division title for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers franchise.
2009 NFL draft
Many had speculated as to who the Chargers would likely target early in the 2009 NFL draft. Commonly noted areas of need included the safety positions, the right side of the offensive line, and inside linebacker. The Chargers were also expected to be in the hunt for a running back to eventually replace Tomlinson, who, despite past excellence, had faced more frequent injuries and declining production as he aged.
Staff San Diego Chargers 2009 staff Front office Owner – Alex Spanos President/CEO – Dean Spanos Executive vice president – Michael Spanos Executive vice president/executive officer – A. G. Spanos Executive vice president/general manager – A. J. Smith Executive vice president of football operations/assistant general manager – Ed McGuire Senior executive – Randy Mueller Director of player personnel – Jimmy Raye Director of pro scouting – Dennis Abraham Director of college scouting – John Spanos Assistant director of college scouting – Mike Biehl
Head coaches Head coach – Norv Turner Assistant head coach/tight ends – Rob Chudzinski Assistant to the Head Coach – Margie Smith
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Clarence Shelmon Quarterbacks – John Ramsdell Running backs – Ollie Wilson Wide receivers – Charlie Joiner Offensive line – Hal Hunter Offensive line – Mike Sullivan Offensive Assistant/Coaches’ Assistant – Steve Gera Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Ron Rivera Defensive line – Don Johnson Linebackers – John Pagano Assistant linebackers – Greg Williams Secondary – Steven Wilks Assistant secondary – Cris Dishman
Special teams coaches Special teams – Steve Crosby
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jeff Hurd Assistant strength and conditioning – Vernon Stephens Nutrition coordinator – Hal Hunter
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 15 Seattle Seahawks L 20–14 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 22 at Arizona Cardinals W 17–6 1–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 3 August 29 at Atlanta Falcons L 27–24 1–2 Georgia Dome Recap 4 September 4 San Francisco 49ers W 26–7 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 14 at Oakland Raiders W 24–20 1–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 2 September 20 Baltimore Ravens L 26–31 1–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 3 September 27 Miami Dolphins W 23–13 2–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 28–38 2–2 Heinz Field Recap 5 Bye 6 October 19 Denver Broncos L 23–34 2–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 7 October 25 at Kansas City Chiefs W 37–7 3–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 8 November 1 Oakland Raiders W 24–16 4–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 9 November 8 at New York Giants W 21–20 5–3 Giants Stadium Recap 10 November 15 Philadelphia Eagles W 31–23 6–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 11 November 22 at Denver Broncos W 32–3 7–3 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 12 November 29 Kansas City Chiefs W 43–14 8–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 13 December 6 at Cleveland Browns W 30–23 9–3 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 14 December 13 at Dallas Cowboys W 20–17 10–3 Cowboys Stadium Recap 15 December 20 Cincinnati Bengals W 27–24 11–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 16 December 25 at Tennessee Titans W 42–17 12–3 LP Field Recap 17 January 3 Washington Redskins W 23–20 13–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Oakland Raiders
The Chargers began their season at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum for a Week 1 AFL Legacy duel with their AFC West rival, the Oakland Raiders, in the second game of an MNF doubleheader. In the first quarter, San Diego trailed early as Raiders running back Michael Bush got a 4-yard touchdown run. The Chargers would strike back in the second quarter as running back LaDainian Tomlinson got a 1-yard touchdown run. Oakland would respond with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 37-yard field goal. San Diego would close out the half with kicker Nate Kaeding making a 47-yard field goal.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Raiders would retake the lead in the fourth quarter as Janikowski nailed a 35-yard field goal. The Chargers would take the lead as quarterback Philip Rivers completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Oakland would respond with quarterback JaMarcus Russell completing a 57-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Louis Murphy, but San Diego came right back with a 5-yard touchdown run by running back Darren Sproles.
With the win, the Chargers began their season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Coming off their road win over the Raiders, the Chargers would play their Week 2 home opener against the Baltimore Ravens. San Diego would deliver the opening strike in the first quarter as quarterback Philip Rivers completed an 81-yard touchdown pass to running back Darren Sproles. The Ravens would respond with running back Willis McGahee getting a 5-yard touchdown run, yet the Chargers would regain the lead as kicker Nate Kaeding got a 29-yard field goal. Baltimore would take the lead in the second quarter as McGahee got a 3-yard touchdown run. San Diego would pull within one as Kaeding made a 22-yard field goal, but the Ravens answered with quarterback Joe Flacco completing a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kelley Washington. The Chargers would end the half as Kaeding would make a 23-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Baltimore would add onto their lead as Flacco completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap. San Diego would stay close as Rivers completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson. In the fourth quarter, the Chargers got closer as Kaeding kicked a 25-yard field goal, but the Ravens would answer with kicker Steve Hauschka nailing a 33-yard field goal. San Diego would manage to get a late drive all the way to the Ravens' 15-yard line, but on 4th-&-2, Sproles was tackled behind the line of scrimmage by an unblocked Ray Lewis, ending any hope of a comeback.
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins
Hoping to rebound from their tough loss to the Ravens, the Chargers stayed at home for a Week 3 duel with the Miami Dolphins. After a 1-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by the Dolphins, San Diego would strike in the second quarter with a 25-yard field goal from kicker Nate Kaeding. The Dolphins would answer with a 24-yard field goal from kicker Dan Carpenter. In the third quarter, Miami extended the lead with Carpenter's 23-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Chargers struck back with quarterback Philip Rivers' 5-yard touchdown run. San Diego would then pull away in the fourth quarter with Kaeding nailing a 23-yard and a 26-yard field goal, followed by safety Eric Weddle returning an interception 31 yards for a touchdown. The Dolphins tried to rally with running back Ricky Williams' 14-yard touchdown run, yet the 'Bolts would hold on for the victory.
With the win, the Chargers improved to 2–1.
Week 4: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming off their home win over the Dolphins, the Chargers flew to Heinz Field for a Week 4 Sunday night duel with the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. San Diego found themselves in a huge deficit in the first half. In the first quarter, the Steelers opened the game with running back Rashard Mendenhall getting a 1-yard touchdown run and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to running back Mewelde Moore. Pittsburgh would increase their lead in the second quarter with Mendenhall's 2-yard touchdown run.
In the third quarter, the Steelers continued to roll as Roethlisberger found tight end Heath Miller on a 6-yard touchdown pass. San Diego would strike back as quarterback Philip Rivers threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Gates. In the fourth quarter, the Chargers began to catch up with a key play on special teams as fullback Jacob Hester stripped Stefan Logan of the ball and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown. Pittsburgh would answer with Roethlisberger's 6-yard touchdown pass to Miller. Afterwards, San Diego continued its comeback run as Rivers completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Gates and a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Chambers. However, the Steelers came right back with a 46-yard field goal from kicker Jeff Reed. The Bolts tried to cap off their rally, but a sack and fumble by linebacker James Harrison led to a Pittsburgh recovery, effectively ending any hope of a comeback.
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 2–2.
Week 6: vs. Denver Broncos
Coming off their bye week, the Chargers went home, donned their throwback uniforms, and played a Week 6 AFL Legacy duel with the Denver Broncos on Monday night. In the first quarter, San Diego struck first with kicker Nate Kaeding getting a 20-yard field goal. The Broncos would immediately respond as wide receiver Eddie Royal returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, yet the Chargers came back with quarterback Philip Rivers completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Denver would take the lead in the second quarter with a 34-yard field goal from kicker Matt Prater and Royal returning a punt 71 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, San Diego closed out the half with a Kaeding 44-yard field goal and running back Darren Sproles' 77-yard punt return for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Chargers would add onto their lead with Kaeding nailing a 50-yard field goal. However, the Broncos would take the lead with quarterback Kyle Orton's 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Scheffler. In the fourth quarter, Denver would increase their lead with Prater's 29-yard field goal and Orton finding wide receiver Brandon Stokley on a 5-yard touchdown pass. San Diego tried to rally, but the Broncos' defense stood strong and held for the win.
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 2–3. This is also their third straight season where the team has started 2–3 after five games.
Week 7: at Kansas City Chiefs
Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Broncos, the Chargers flew to Arrowhead Stadium, donned their throwbacks, and played a Week 7 AFL Legacy game with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the first quarter, San Diego struck first with quarterback Philip Rivers competing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malcom Floyd and a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson. The Chargers would continue their dominance in the second quarter as kicker Nate Kaeding nailed a 20-yard and a 39-yard field goal.
The Chiefs would get on the board in the third quarter with quarterback Matt Cassel completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, yet San Diego came right back with Rivers hooking up with running back Darren Sproles on a 58-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, the Chargers would wrap up the game in the fourth quarter with Kaeding booting a 19-yard field goal and fullback Jacob Hester recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.
With the win, San Diego improved to 3–3.
Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders