A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 2006 San Diego Chargers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Alex Spanos |
| General manager | A. J. Smith |
| Head coach | Marty Schottenheimer |
| Home field | Qualcomm Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 14–2 |
| Division place | 1st AFC West |
| Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (vs. Patriots) 21–24 |
| Pro Bowlers | |
| AP All-Pros | 6
|
The 2006 season was the San Diego Chargers' 37th season in the National Football League (NFL), and the 47th overall. They improved on their 9–7 record in 2005 and finished the campaign as the No. 1 seed in the AFC ending the season at 14–2, the best record in the NFL in 2006. Their two regular season losses were by a combined 6 points. The team would experience a brutal home-field playoff loss for the second time in the past three seasons losing in the final minutes, this time to the New England Patriots 24–21. This was the first of four consecutive AFC West titles for the Chargers.
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson led the league in rushing with 1,815 yards, as well as setting NFL single-season records for rushing touchdowns (28) and total touchdowns (31). It was the final season the Chargers wore their powder blue-free uniforms.
The 2006 Chargers are widely considered to be one of the greatest teams to not make the Super Bowl.[1][2][3]
Off-season
The Chargers did not re-sign All–Pro quarterback Drew Brees to a contract, Brees had suffered a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in the final game of the season, and turned instead to 2004 1st round selection Philip Rivers.[4] Brees would later sign a contract with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent and make a complete recovery.[5]
Chargers ownership announced in January that the team would no longer attempt to place a proposal for a new stadium on the November ballot as they were not able to locate private partners to facilitate financing of the project.[6] The team had begun talks with city officials in 2002 stating that Qualcomm Stadium was inadequate to meet the financial needs of the franchise, and that they needed the city's help in building a new stadium to remain competitive.[6]
2006 NFL draft
In the NFL draft, the Chargers used their first pick on Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie.[7] They used their second pick on Auburn offensive tackle Marcus McNeill.[8] The remainder of their draft picks were Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst,[8] Iowa State linebacker Tim Dobbins,[8] Kansas State offensive tackle Jeromey Clary,[8] Virginia kicker Kurt Smith,[8] North Carolina defensive end Chase Page,[8] and Virginia Tech offensive tackle Jimmy Martin.[8]
NFL draft
| 2006 San Diego Chargers draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Antonio Cromartie * | CB | Florida State | |
| 2 | 50 | Marcus McNeill * | OT | Auburn | |
| 3 | 81 | Charlie Whitehurst | QB | Clemson | |
| 5 | 151 | Tim Dobbins | LB | Iowa State | |
| 6 | 187 | Jeromey Clary | OT | Alabama | |
| 6 | 188 | Kurt Smith | K | Virginia | from Miami |
| 7 | 225 | Chase Page | DT | North Carolina | |
| 7 | 227 | Jimmy Martin | OT | NIU | from Minnesota |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Training camp
Expectations varied for the Chargers' 2006 season. Questions centered on the play of the untested QB Rivers in his first season starting, and with the offensive line, especially at the crucial left tackle position. OLT Roman Oben injury in 2005[9] had a negative impact on all aspects of the offense and his replacement Lender Jordan ability to protect QB Rivers blindside was unproven. Jordan was injured in training camp[10] and 2nd round draft pick OT Marcus McNeill landed the starting job and went on to have a Pro Bowl season.[11] Defensively, the front seven remained talented and solid.[12] LB depth was tested with Steve Foley's off-the-field injury; however, his replacement OLB Shaun Phillips (42 tackles, 23 assists, 11.5 sacks) came through with a major quality performance. The unit returned numerous key players, including nose tackle Jamal Williams, DE Luis Castillo, DE Igor Olshansky and 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year Shawne Merriman, that made the Chargers the best team in the NFL against the run in 2005 season.[13] Another area of concern was in the secondary,[14] Cromartie, who sat out his last season at Florida State with a knee injury, is talented but inexperience was not expected to contribute right away .[15] Cromartie filled the 3rd CB role for the team and pressed starting CB Drayton Florence for playing time. Safety play became more of a concern particularly with the arrest of DB Terrence Kiel by federal law enforcement officials on drug charges[16] during the regular season and the re-injury to DB Bhawoh Jue's knee.[17]
Roster
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 12 | Green Bay Packers | W 17–3 | 1–0 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | August 18 | Chicago Bears | L 3–24 | 1–1 | Soldier Field | Recap |
| 3 | August 26 | Seattle Seahawks | W 31–20 | 2–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
| 4 | September 1 | San Francisco 49ers | L 14–23 | 2–2 | Monster Park | Recap |