The Chargers have had some of the best players of all time on their roster, which dates back to more than three decades ago. They have continued to add more talent to this day, but it’s always cool to look back when it all started.
With that, we decided to choose five former members that played for the franchise before that we believe would help the team solidify a spot in the Super Bowl this upcoming season for the first time since 1994.
Again, this is an activity where we aren’t going to list all of the greats. Instead, this is based on positions of need and areas that more depth needs to be filled.
TE Kellen Winslow
After being selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft, Winslow went on to becoming one of the best tight ends to ever play for the Chargers. He excelled at the position, blocking like a left tackle and hauling in passes like a premiere wide receiver.
Winslow played in five Pro Bowls, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002. In his nine NFL seasons, Winslow caught 541 passes for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Winslow’s best moment took place during the 1981 playoffs against the Dolphins, when he caught a playoff-record 13 passes for 166 yards and blocked a field goal with four seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Could you just imagine the Bolts running 12 personnel with Wilson and Hunter Henry? Not to mention, he would help the team’s poor pass protection on the right side. The Chargers would easily have the best tight end tandem in the league and would solidify the offense as elite status.
WR Vincent Jackson
Jackson entered the league as the Bolts’ second-round selection in 2005. Injuries hampered him as a rookie, but he eventually turned into a dangerous receiving threat for quarterback Philip Rivers.
After failing to receive the paycheck that he was wanting, Jackson left the team and ultimately landed with the Buccaneers. Now retired, he had 272 receptions for 4,754 yards and 37 touchdowns as a Charger.
Jackson had a rare combination of size and speed and was one of the best deep threats in the game, averaging a 17.5 yards per catch with the Bolts. With there being a need for the No. 3 role, he would fill that and would solidify a lethal trio alongside Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
DT Jamal Williams
A three-time Pro Bowler, Williams was a huge piece of the Chargers’ success on the interior part of the defensive line. He was a wide-bodied, run-stuffing nose tackle who kept the linebackers clean.
His numbers weren’t as promising, as he only had 13 sacks in 12 seasons with San Diego and averaged fewer than 33 total tackles per game. But his presence was notable and the defense was so much better with the role that he had to do.
With there being question marks at the nose tackle position, Williams would solidify that, joining rookie Jerry Tillery up front to make one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.
CB Quentin Jammer
At 6-foot and 205 pounds, Jammer had the size to play at either safety or cornerback. But he spent more than a decade playing corner and he solidified himself as one of the league’s more physical corners.
Jammer was never voted to a Pro Bowl, and never received any postseason recognition despite the fact that he had a knack for the football and the numbers showed. He has the most passes defensed in team history with 137.
The Chargers already have Casey Hayward and Desmond King, but Jammer would be an instant upgrade over Trevor Williams or Michael Davis. His presence would help the secondary as a whole significantly.
LB Junior Seau
No player was more associated with the Chargers than Junior Seau. The future Hall of Fame linebacker played 13 seasons for the Bolts, being voted to the Pro Bowl his final 12 years.
He was first-team All-Pro for six years. He earned the 1994 Walter Peyton Man of the Year. Seau had more than 100 tackles in seven seasons while with the Chargers. He was the leader of the only team to play in the Super Bowl in 1994.
His passion for the game was second-to-none and you could make the argument that he will go down as the best to ever play for the franchise. Even though the linebacker position is loaded with pieces right now, there’s no denying that he would be the most prolific player on the defensive side of the ball.
Gone, but never forgotten.
