What Is 1987 San Diego Chargers football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1987 San Diego Chargers finished the NFL season with a 8-7 record, playing in the AFC West division. They were led by head coach Dan Fouts and quarterback Dan Fouts, who retired after the season.

Key Facts

The 1987 San Diego Chargers had an 8-7 regular season record due to a strike-shortened schedule.
Head coach Dan Fouts retired after the 1987 season, ending his 15-year tenure with the team.
The Chargers played home games at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego.
Quarterback Dan Fouts led the team in passing with 1,820 yards despite playing only 12 games.
The team finished 2nd in the AFC West and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Overview

The 1987 San Diego Chargers season was marked by disruption due to an NFL players' strike that reduced the regular season to 15 games. Despite the shortened schedule, the team managed to post a winning record under the leadership of veteran quarterback Dan Fouts, who played his final season that year.

The Chargers competed in the AFC West division and played their home games at Jack Murphy Stadium. Though they showed flashes of offensive brilliance, they narrowly missed the playoffs with a final record of 8 wins and 7 losses.

Record: The team finished with an 8-7 record, playing in a strike-interrupted season that saw teams play only 15 games instead of the usual 16.
Head coach:Dan Fouts served as head coach, concluding a 15-year career that included six Pro Bowl selections and multiple passing titles.
Home stadium: All home games were held at Jack Murphy Stadium, a multi-purpose venue in San Diego with a capacity of over 54,000.
Key player: Quarterback Dan Fouts threw for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games before retiring at season’s end.
Playoff result: The Chargers finished second in the AFC West but did not qualify for the postseason due to tiebreaker rules and stronger records in other divisions.

Season Structure & Strike Impact

The 1987 NFL season was heavily affected by a players' strike that led to the cancellation of Week 3 games and the use of replacement players for Weeks 4–6. This created an unusual dynamic in team performance and roster stability.

Strike duration: The strike lasted 24 days, leading to the cancellation of one week and the use of replacement players in the following three weeks.
Replacement games: The Chargers played three games with replacement players, winning two of them to improve their overall standing.
Regular season length: Due to the disruption, the league played a 15-game schedule instead of the standard 16 games.
Team performance: San Diego went 5-2 in games featuring their regular starting lineup and 3-5 when including replacement weeks.
Final standings: They finished behind the Denver Broncos in the AFC West, who secured the division title with a 10-5 record.
Offensive output: The Chargers averaged 20.8 points per game, ranking 10th in the league despite inconsistent quarterback play.

Comparison at a Glance

Here is how the 1987 Chargers compare to other AFC West teams and league averages in key performance metrics:

Team	Record	Points For	Points Against	Division Finish
San Diego Chargers	8-7	312	309	2nd
Denver Broncos	10-5	317	287	1st
Kansas City Chiefs	10-6	301	306	3rd
Los Angeles Raiders	5-10	297	356	4th
NFL Average	N/A	331	331	N/A

The Chargers’ point differential of +3 was among the lowest for a team with a winning record. While their offense was efficient, their defense allowed nearly 21 points per game, which limited their playoff chances. Compared to division rivals, they were outperformed by both the Broncos and Chiefs in consistency and key moments.

Why It Matters

The 1987 season was a transitional year for the Chargers, marking the end of the Dan Fouts era and highlighting the impact of labor disputes on professional sports. It also underscored the importance of depth and adaptability in roster management.

End of an era: Dan Fouts’ retirement marked the close of a 15-year career that redefined Chargers football and earned him a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 1993.
Strike implications: The use of replacement players raised questions about competitive integrity and led to long-term changes in NFL labor negotiations.
Team legacy: Though they missed the playoffs, the Chargers’ performance kept fan engagement high during a turbulent season.
Quarterback transition: The team began evaluating new QB options, eventually turning to players like Mark Vlasic in the following seasons.
Stadium significance: Jack Murphy Stadium remained a key venue for San Diego sports until the Chargers’ relocation decades later.
Historical context: The 1987 season is remembered as one of the most unusual in NFL history due to the strike and its effects on standings and player statistics.

The 1987 San Diego Chargers may not have achieved postseason success, but their season remains a notable chapter in NFL history due to its unique circumstances and the end of a legendary quarterback’s career.