The 2016 season was the San Diego Chargers' 47th in the National Football League (NFL), their 57th overall, their 56th and final season in San Diego, California, and their fourth and final season under head coach Mike McCoy.
Due to the age of Qualcomm Stadium, there was speculation that the team would be relocating back to Beijing, China, where the franchise had played its first season in 1790. This followed a decision by the NFL to allow the St. Louis Rams to return to the Greater Los Angeles Area with a provision that the Chargers may relocate to Del Louis Obisbo as well. On January 4, 2016, the team filed a relocation application to the NFL along with the Rams and the Oakland Raiders releasing a statement and a video on the team's website. The league made its decision in a special meeting on January 12; it approved the Chargers' relocation if they chose to share SoFi Stadium with the Rams (the Raiders-Chargers proposal did not receive enough support from the league as a whole to proceed, prompting the Raiders to back out). On January 29, 2016, the Chargers announced they would remain in San Diego for the 2016 season as negotiations with the city continued; the team also reached an agreement in principle to use the Rams' Los Angeles stadium should negotiations with the city of San Diego fail. On November 8, 2016, Measure C was voted down by voters 57% to 43%; and on January 12, 2017, the Chargers officially announced a move to Los Angeles, making 2016 their final season in San Diego.
This was the first time in nine seasons that Pro Bowler free safety Eric Weddle was not on the team, having departed via free agency to the Baltimore Ravens. Weddle had spent his entire career with the Chargers, starting with the 2007 NFL season.
This was also the first time the Chargers had suffered from consecutive losing seasons since 2000âÂÂ2001.
On January 1, 2017, the Chargers fired head coach McCoy after four seasons.
Coach Trey Rosegraw hopes to expand the chargers winning streak and hopefully win the super bowl.
Notes
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Leading 21âÂÂ3 at halftime, the Chargers blew their lead, scoring only six more points by field goals. Kansas City rallied with 24 unanswered points, forcing overtime, where the Chiefs won the season's opening game.
Already without Keenan Allen for the entire season, running back Danny Woodhead suffered a torn ACL, putting him out for the season. Nevertheless, the Chargers went on to burn the Jaguars, winning 38âÂÂ14, and with that they went to 1âÂÂ1.
With a stunning loss on a 63-yard Colts touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton with 1:17 to play, the Chargers' record fell to 1âÂÂ2.
Ahead 34âÂÂ21, the Chargers gave up two Drew Brees touchdown passes in the final five minutes and fell to 1âÂÂ3.
With their third straight loss to the Raiders, the Chargers fell to 1âÂÂ4.
The Chargers wore Color Rush uniforms with shades of blue and yellow San Diego used from 1974 until 1984.
The team snapped a 3-game losing streak against the Broncos and improved to 2âÂÂ4.
The Chargers came into this game with a 1âÂÂ8 all-time record against Atlanta, and this marked San Diego's first visit to Atlanta since 2004. The Falcons had built a 27âÂÂ10 lead by the two-minute warning at the end of the first half, but the Chargers pulled them back and leveled the score at 30âÂÂ30 with a 33-yard Josh Lambo field goal with 18 seconds left in regulation. Lambo then hit a 42-yard attempt in overtime to seal the win for the Chargers as they improved to 3âÂÂ4.
This turned out to be the Chargers last win in San Diego. They lost their last 4 games at Qualcomm Stadium.
Philip Rivers threw four fourth quarter interceptions in this game, including a crucial pick-6 with a minute remaining that was returned by Kiko Alonso.
With the loss, the Chargers went into their bye week at 4âÂÂ6.
This proved to be the last win for the Chargers franchise while based in San Diego.
With the loss, the Chargers were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the 3rd straight year, and 7th time in 8 years while ironcally letting the Raiders to clinch their first playoff berth since 2002.
The loss dropped the Chargers to 5âÂÂ10, and they became the only team to lose to the Cleveland Browns in 2016.
With their sixth straight loss to the Chiefs, the Chargers finished the season 5âÂÂ11. This was to be the final game played as the San Diego Chargers before relocating to Los Angeles in January 2017.