The Los Angeles Chargers have had some terrific players in their storied team history. When thinking of the best players to ever play for the team, LaDainian Tomlinson, Junior Seau, and Philip Rivers immediately spring to mind.
But what about some of the players we forgot played for the team or maybe, didn't even know played for the team?
These six NFL players, many of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, actually suited up and played for the Chargers, and many fans, even big fans of the team, may not even realize it.
Looking back at some big names in NFL history who had a stint with the Chargers
Larry Little, Offensive Tackle (1967-68)
Larry Little went undrafted in 1967 and signed with the Chargers in the AFL because they were able to offer him the largest signing bonus of the teams pursuing him. After two years there, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
In Miami, Little played on one of the best offensive lines in NFL history. He was part of two Super Bowl champion Dolphins teams and the only undefeated team in NFL history. He made the Pro Bowl five times and was a five-time First-team All-Pro.
That eventually led to Little being named to the All-Decade Team of the 1970s and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If only he did all of that with the Chargers.
Little is the only player on this list who began his career with the Chargers.
Deacon Jones, Defensive End (1972-73)
Deacon Jones is considered by some to be the greatest pass-rusher the league has ever seen and though his playing career ended 50 years ago, his accomplishments still put him in the talk of best defensive players of all time.
Sacks were not a tracked statistic until 1982, but the league has gone back and made unofficial statistics for games played before that, and looking at those numbers, Jones had three different 20-sack seasons. Teams only played 14 games back then.
He is most remembered for his days with the Los Angeles Rams, where he harassed quarterbacks for 11 seasons but he did spend two seasons with the Chargers. Unofficially, he had 11 total sacks in his time there.
John Mackey, Tight End (1972)
To this day, John Mackey is still considered one of the best tight ends to ever play the game.
As a second-round pick out of Syracuse in 1963, Mackey played nine seasons with the Baltimore Colts, helping them win the NFL Championship in 1968 and Super Bowl V in 1971. He is in the Hall of Fame and was named to the All-Decade Team of the 1960s as well as the NFL's 50th and 100th anniversary squads.
After leaving the Colts, he signed with the Chargers ahead of the 1972 season. He caught only 11 passes for 110 yards and retired from the game following the season.
Johnny Unitas, Quarterback (1973)
The biggest name on this list, Johnny Unitas remains one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history to this day. Some fans felt it was sad that his career ended the way it did, with the then-San Diego Chargers.
After 17 seasons with the Colts, Unitas had become the best quarterback ever at that point. But ahead of the 1973 season, he was traded to the Chargers amid a scenario that saw Carroll Rosenbloom, the team's owner, swap franchises with Robert Irsay, who had just acquired the Rams.
Unitas was ready for a change and went to the Chargers for one final season as a player. Unitas hurt his shoulder during that season, an injury that would lead to the end of his career, and he was able to make just four starts for the team that season, throwing three touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Johnny Unitas #Chargers pic.twitter.com/fDP9cAdi4y
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) May 7, 2024
His injury led to the door opening for a rookie the team drafted that same year... Dan Fouts.
Jim McMahon, Quarterback (1989)
Jim McMahon was not that great of a player, but he will never be forgotten as the quarterback of the 1985 Chicago Bears. Remembered for his attitude and signature headband, McMahon played for the Bears for seven seasons, winning Super Bowl XX.
But McMahon wasn't getting along with the head coach, Mike Ditka (something Jim Harbaugh would later experience), and a trade was initiated. The Chargers gave up a high draft pick to acquire McMahon and were excited to get him, as detailed in this piece in the Los Angeles Times by Brian Hewitt.
But McMahon didn't work out the way the team hoped he would, making 11 starts that year while throwing 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was benched in favor of Billy Joe Tolliver and released after the season.
Jim Everett, Quarterback (1997)
This is a quirky addition to the list, but it is hard to remember Jim Everett wearing a Chargers uniform. However, the quarterback, who is best remembered for his altercation with Jim Rome on a talk show, wrapped up his 12-year career with the Chargers, playing just one season for the team.
He made one start that season and it just happened to be against one of his former teams, the New Orleans Saints. The Chargers won that game 20-6.
Everett's 34,837 career passing yards still rank No. 36 on the league's all-time list.
