The professional American football team now known as the Los Angeles Chargers previously played in San Diego as the San Diego Chargers from 1961 to 2016 before relocating back to Los Angeles where the team played their inaugural season. The Chargers franchise relocated from Los Angeles to San Diego in 1961.
The Chargers’ first home game in San Diego was at Balboa Stadium against the Oakland Raiders on September 17, 1961. Their final game as a San Diego-based club was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego at the end of the 2016 season against the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated them 37–27
Los Angeles Chargers Best Running Backs Of All-Time
Marion Butts-(1989-1993)
Marion Butts was one of the best back in Bolts history (pun intended). He played for San Diego between 1989 and 1993 and was one of the biggest backs in Chargers history standing in at a hefty 248 pounds.
It was that size and power though that helped Butts to rank third in yardage (4,297), fifth in touchdowns (31), sixth in yards per game (56.5) and second in career touches (1,031) in franchise history.
Butts was the ultimate man among men and dominated the NFL especially in 1990 when he rushed for 1,225 yards and eight touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry all in 14 games. It was his 87.5 rushing yards per game in 1990 that earned him the top spot in the league at the time for rushing yards per game.
A two-time pro-bowler, Butts was injured often during his career, but somehow found a way to rank top 10 in the league in touchdowns, yards per carry average and total yardage.
Even though his yards per carry average started to suffer towards the end of his Chargers career, his 4,297 yards and his outstanding 1990 season deserves a spot on our this list.
Natrone Means-(1993-1995 &1998-1999)
Natrone Means’ career is probably the most interesting of all the Chargers. After initially being drafted in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, Natrone was a legend in San Diego before heading to Jacksonville in 1996 after three seasons.
We thought that was the last we would see of Means until he returned in 1998 and finished out his career with the Bolts.
Even though Means was not the most efficient back in Chargers history by a long shot, he was most certainly a workhorse. As illustrated by 3.8 yards per carry average (lowest among Chargers top 10 running backs), Means excelled whenever he got a healthy dosage of carries.
His 3,885 career yards (fifth), 34 touchdowns (fourth), and 65.8 yards per game (second) are all courtesy of his 1,013 rushing attempts (fourth).
Means the greatest season in a Chargers uniform came in his only Pro Bowl season when in 1994 he took 343 carries for 1,350 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 3.9 yards per carry average and 84.4 yards per game. His 1,350 yards in ’94 rank sixth all-time in Chargers history for rushing yards in a season behind none other than LaDainian Tomlinson.
During the Chargers Super Bowl run, Means carried the ball 57 times for 241 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an impressive 80.3 yards per game.
Despite the fact that Means didn’t have an amazing yard per carry average, he was still able to find a way to get yards and score touchdowns. And in terms of this all-time list, the ends do justify the Means.
Dickie Post-(1967-1970)
After the great Keith Lincoln left the Bolts, the elusive and quick-footed Dickie Post took over the Chargers backfield and amazed Chargers fans. His 2,519 yards (ninth all-time), 17 touchdowns (t-ninth), 568 carries (10th), and 51.4 rushing yards per game (eighth) achieved high franchise ranks. From 1968 to 1969, Post averaged 815.5 yards, 166.5 carries, and 4.5 touchdowns all on a 4.9 yards per carry average.
In his great 1969 season, Post’s 873 yards were the most in the AFL with his rushing yards per carry (4.8) and yards per game (62.4) averages ranking fourth and second in the league. Post’s 5.0 yards per carry in 1968 ranked second in the league as well.
In a nutshell, Post earns this spot on the list because of his statistics but also because of his “never say quit” attitude he took to the field every day. Eventually his supposed “running scared” tactic he utilized caused his body to break down in the end, but that doesn’t take away from the great seasons we saw on the field. The two-time Pro Bowl selection was an exciting back and deserves admiration for the time he spent with the Chargers during the early transition from the AFL to the NFL
