Offensive Player of the Year – From The Middle Blog

The Los Angeles Chargers have a very distinctive history in professional football. Founded in 1959 as a charter member of the American Football League, the Chargers began play in Los Angeles in 1960, moved to San Diego in 1961, and returned to Los Angeles in 2017. The franchise has produced Hall of Fame players, innovative coaches, record-setting quarterbacks and one of the most influential offensive systems in NFL history. The Birth of the Chargers The Chargers were awarded to Los Angeles on August 14, 1959, as one of the eight original AFL franchises. They began their first season in 1960. The team’s founding owner was Barron Hilton, who purchased the franchise rights for $25,000. Hilton also held a contest to select the team’s name, with “Chargers” ultimately being chosen. The Chargers immediately became one of the AFL’s most competitive teams under head coach Sid Gillman. They won five division titles during their first six seasons and captured the 1963 AFL Championship. Chargers Owners The franchise has had several ownership eras. Barron Hilton — 1960–1966 Hilton was the Chargers’ founding owner and the person who brought the franchise into existence. His Chargers won the 1963 AFL Championship and helped establish the club as one of the AFL’s strongest organizations. Eugene V. Klein and the ownership group — 1966–1984 In 1966, Hilton sold the Chargers to a group headed by Eugene V. Klein and Sam Schulman. Klein became the club’s principal owner. The Klein era eventually produced the famous “Air Coryell” Chargers. Klein hired Don Coryell during the 1978 season, and the Chargers became one of the NFL’s premier offensive teams. Alex Spanos — 1984–2018 Alex Spanos purchased controlling interest in the Chargers from Klein in 1984. He subsequently acquired additional shares and became the dominant owner of the franchise. Spanos’ ownership included the team’s 1994 AFC championship and its appearance in Super Bowl XXIX following the 1994 season. Dean Spanos — Controlling owner Alex Spanos turned day-to-day control of the organization over to his son Dean Spanos in the 1990s. Dean became the team’s controlling owner and chairman and led the franchise through its move back to Los Angeles in 2017. The Chargers remain a Spanos family-owned franchise. Every Stadium the Chargers Have Called Home The Chargers have had an unusually varied stadium history because of their move from Los Angeles to San Diego and eventually back to Los Angeles. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — 1960 The original Los Angeles Chargers played their inaugural 1960 season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. That first season established the Chargers as an exciting AFL franchise before the team relocated to San Diego. Balboa Stadium — San Diego — 1961–1966 The Chargers moved to San Diego for the 1961 season and played at Balboa Stadium. This became the franchise’s first San Diego home. San Diego Stadium — 1967–2016 The Chargers moved into the newly constructed San Diego Stadium in 1967. The facility subsequently carried several names: San Diego Stadium Jack Murphy Stadium Qualcomm Stadium The Chargers spent nearly five decades playing their home games at the facility. There was one unusual exception in 2003, when a Chargers home game was played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, because of the Cedar Fire in San Diego. Dignity Health Sports Park — Carson — 2017–2019 When the franchise returned to Los Angeles in 2017, the Chargers initially played at the small Carson venue then known as StubHub Center. It was renamed Dignity Health Sports Park in 2019. The Chargers played there through the 2019 season while their permanent Los Angeles stadium was being constructed. SoFi Stadium — Inglewood — 2020–present The Chargers moved into SoFi Stadium in 2020. They share the stadium with the Los Angeles Rams, making SoFi Stadium the current home of both Los Angeles NFL franchises. The Chargers’ first season at the facility began a new chapter in the franchise’s history. Chargers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame There is an important distinction in discussing Chargers Hall of Famers. The Pro Football Hall of Fame identifies 16 franchise members associated with the Chargers through the 2025 season. However, some of those individuals earned their Hall of Fame recognition largely or partly through careers with other organizations. For this article, the focus is on players and coaches whose Chargers careers are central to their Chargers legacy. Lance Alworth Position: Wide receiver Chargers: 1962–1970 Hall of Fame: 1978 Alworth was the first Chargers player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He became one of the AFL’s great deep threats and was a centerpiece of the Chargers’ championship-era teams. Ron Mix Position: Offensive tackle Chargers: 1960–1969 Hall of Fame: 1979 Mix was one of the dominant offensive linemen of the AFL era and played a major role in protecting Chargers quarterbacks during the club’s early success. Sid Gillman Position: Head coach Chargers: 1960–1971 Hall of Fame: 1983 Gillman helped establish the Chargers as an offensive innovator. His coaching philosophy emphasized sophisticated passing concepts and helped influence generations of NFL coaches. Dan Fouts Position: Quarterback Chargers: 1973–1987 Hall of Fame: 1993 Fouts became the defining quarterback of the Air Coryell era. His combination of arm strength, accuracy and aggressive downfield passing made him one of the NFL’s most prolific quarterbacks. Kellen Winslow Position: Tight end Chargers: 1979–1987 Hall of Fame: 1995 Winslow revolutionized the possibilities of the tight end position. His receiving ability made him a critical component of the Chargers’ high-powered offense. Charlie Joiner Position: Wide receiver Chargers: 1976–1986 Hall of Fame: 1996 Joiner was one of the key members of the Chargers’ receiving corps and became one of the most productive receivers of his era. Fred Dean … Continue reading The History of the NFL Chargers: From the AFL to the Los Angeles Era

Chicago Bears History: From the Decatur Staleys to the Monsters of the Midway Few franchises in professional sports have a history as deep as the Chicago Bears. The Bears are one of the two remaining charter members of the NFL, tracing their roots to 1920. Before they became the Chicago Bears, they were the Decatur Staleys, an industrial football team sponsored by the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company. The franchise moved to Chicago in 1921, changed its name to the Bears in 1922 and has been one of professional football’s most important organizations ever since. The Bears have won nine NFL championships, including the 1985 Super Bowl, and their history includes George Halas, Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Brian Urlacher, Devin Hester and many other Hall of Fame players. The franchise has also produced some of the most famous defenses in football history. The Birth of the Bears In 1920, the A.E. Staley Company of Decatur, Illinois, sponsored a football team. George Halas, who had experience as both a player and coach, became the team’s representative at the September 17, 1920 meeting in Canton, Ohio, where representatives of 11 other clubs helped form the American Professional Football Association, which became the National Football League in 1922. The franchise fee was only $100. The original team was the Decatur Staleys. In 1921, A.E. Staley gave Halas the team, $5,000 and permission to move the club to Chicago as long as it retained the Staleys name for one season. The move worked. The Chicago Staleys won the 1921 APFA championship. In January 1922, the franchise officially became the Chicago Bears. The Bears were born. George Halas: The Man Who Was the Bears It is almost impossible to tell the story of the Bears without telling the story of George “Papa Bear” Halas. Halas was: Player, Coach, Owner, General manager, Founder, Innovator, and NFL pioneer. He coached the Bears for 40 seasons, divided into four separate 10-year periods. His coaching record was an extraordinary 324-151-31, including playoffs. He led Chicago to six NFL championships as coach: 1921, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1946 and 1963. Halas retired from coaching after the 1967 season. He remained the guiding force of the organization until his death in 1983. Few people in NFL history have had a greater influence on a franchise. Bears Ownership History One of the unusual things about the Chicago Bears is that the franchise has remained in the same family since its earliest days. A.E. Staley Company — 1920 The original Decatur Staleys were owned by the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company. The company sponsored the team and employed many of its players. The Staleys’ financial problems helped lead to the decision to give George Halas control of the franchise and allow him to move it to Chicago. George Halas — 1920-1983 George Halas became the dominant owner and leader of the franchise. For more than six decades, the Bears were essentially his football kingdom. He was involved in virtually every aspect of the organization. The Pro Football Hall of Fame notes that almost all of the Bears’ successes from their beginning through 1983 can be attributed to Halas. Virginia Halas McCaskey — 1983-2025 After George Halas died in 1983, ownership passed to his daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey. She became one of the most important women in NFL history. McCaskey was born in 1923 and had literally grown up around the Bears. She had watched the franchise from the earliest days of professional football and eventually became its principal owner. She was the owner when the Bears won Super Bowl XX following the 1985 season. McCaskey remained the team’s principal owner until her death on February 6, 2025, at age 102. She had been the longest-tenured owner in the NFL. The McCaskey Family — 2025-present After Virginia McCaskey’s death, the Bears remained a McCaskey family-owned franchise. Her grandson, George H. McCaskey, serves as Bears chairman and is the current principal owner/representative of the family’s ownership. The important point is that the Bears have never been sold to an outside ownership group in their modern history. The same family that began with George Halas continues to control the franchise more than a century later. Every Major Bears Home Stadium The Bears have played their home games in several locations during their long history. Staley Field — Decatur, Illinois 1920 This was the original home of the Decatur Staleys. It was a small facility with a capacity of approximately 1,500. The limitations of playing in Decatur were one reason Halas moved the team to Chicago. Cubs Park — Chicago 1921-1925 After moving to Chicago, the Staleys played at Cubs Park. The ballpark was later renamed Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field 1926-1970 Wrigley Field became the Bears’ home for half a century. The Bears played their final game there on December 13, 1970, defeating the Green Bay Packers 35-17. Wrigley was home to some of the greatest players in early Bears history including: Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, George McAfee, Bulldog Turner, Dick Butkus, and Gale Sayers. Soldier Field 1971-2001 The Bears moved to Soldier Field in 1971. The stadium became the permanent symbol of Bears football. It was the home of Walter Payton, the 1985 championship team and the legendary Bears defenses. Memorial Stadium — Champaign, Illinois 2002 … Continue reading Chicago Bears History: From the Decatur Staleys