The
2011 season was the
San Diego Chargers' 42nd in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
and their 52nd overall. The team failed to improve on its 9–7 record from
2010, and finished in a three-way tie with the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquar ...
and
Oakland Raiders for the
AFC West
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las ...
division title, with an 8–8 record, but lost the tiebreaker to the Broncos and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. For
Norv Turner
Norval Turner (born May 17, 1952) is an American football coach in the National Football League (NFL). An offensive assistant for the majority of his coaching career, he came to prominence as the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator during the ...
, this was his fifth season as the head coach of the Chargers. The Chargers had the 18th pick in the
2011 NFL Draft.
Offseason
Coaching changes
On January 11, defensive coordinator
Ron Rivera
Ronald Eugene Rivera (born January 7, 1962), nicknamed "Riverboat Ron", is an American football head coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He attended the University of California, Berkeley in the early 198 ...
became the new head coach of the
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. ...
. That same day,
Rich Bisaccia
Richard Bisaccia (born June 3, 1960) is an American football coach who is the special teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys, San Dieg ...
was named the team's new special teams' coach, replacing
Steve Crosby
Steven Kent Crosby (born July 3, 1950) is an American former professional football coach and player. He spent 33 years in the National Football League (NFL)—3 as a player, 4 as a scout and 26 as a coach. Crosby was named the NFL Special Teams ...
, whose contract was not renewed. Three days later (January 14), the team hired former
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...
' defensive coordinator
Greg Manusky
Gregory Manusky (born August 12, 1966) is an American football coach who is the inside linebacker coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. Manusky started his coaching career as a linebacker coach for two teams over six se ...
to replace Rivera. Manusky previously served as the Chargers' linebackers coach from 2002 to 2006.
Arrivals
Departures
NFL Draft
}
Draft notes
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Coming off their
special teams
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their "position". Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
woes in
2010, the Chargers allowed a 103-yard opening kickoff return to
Percy Harvin
William Percival Harvin III (born May 28, 1988) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Florida, when the Gators won the BCS National Championship in 2006 and 2008, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings ...
to start the season. Kicker
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding (born March 26, 1982) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played the majority of his career with the San Diego Chargers and ...
suffered a season-ending injury on the play, and punter
Mike Scifres assumed place kicking responsibilities for the game.
The Chargers outscored the Vikings 10–0 in the fourth quarter to come back and win the game, 24–17. Fullback
Mike Tolbert
William Michael Tolbert (born November 23, 1985) is a former American football fullback. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football for Coastal Carolina University. He has also been a ...
scored three touchdowns, and
Philip Rivers
Philip Michael Rivers (born December 8, 1981) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Chargers franchise. He played college football at NC State and was se ...
completed 33 of 48 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted twice. Scifres kicked a 40-yard field goal, the first of his NFL career, and kicked three PATs. With the win, the Chargers started their season out 1–0.
[
]
Week 2: at New England Patriots
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
With the win, the Chargers improved to 2–1.
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
With the win, the Chargers improved to 3–1.
Week 5: at Denver Broncos
With the win, the Chargers went into their bye week at 4–1. The team also managed to get their best start after five games under head coach Norv Turner.
Week 7: at New York Jets
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–2.
Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–3.
Week 9: vs. Green Bay Packers
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–4.
Week 10: vs. Oakland Raiders
Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, the Chargers stayed at home for a Week 10 AFC West duel with the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night. San Diego struck first in the opening quarter with a 20-yard field goal from kicker Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan Novak (born August 21, 1981) is a former American football placekicker. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Maryland.
Novak has played for the Washington Redskins, A ...
, but the Raiders answered with running back Michael Bush
Michael Warren Bush, Jr. (born June 16, 1984) is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville.
In addition to the Raiders, B ...
getting a 2-yard touchdown run. Oakland added onto their lead in the second quarter with kicker Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Paweł Janikowski (; born March 2, 1978) is a Polish former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Florida State ...
getting a 23-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Carson Palmer
Carson Hilton Palmer (born December 27, 1979) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at ...
completing a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Denarius Moore.
The Chargers began the third quarter with quarterback Philip Rivers
Philip Michael Rivers (born December 8, 1981) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Chargers franchise. He played college football at NC State and was se ...
finding rookie wide receiver Vincent Brown on a 30-yard touchdown pass, but the Raiders struck back with Palmer completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Moore. Afterwards, San Diego closed out the quarter with Rivers hooking up with fullback Jacob Hester
Jacob Troy Hester (born May 8, 1985) is a former American football fullback who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college foo ...
on a 7-yard touchdown pass. The Chargers tried to rally in the fourth quarter, but Oakland's defense held on to preserve the win.
Win the loss, not only did San Diego fall to 4–5, but it marked the first time since 2003 that the Chargers had lost four-straight.
Week 11: at Chicago Bears
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–6 and lost 5 in a row for the first time since 2003.
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
The loss was the sixth consecutive for the Chargers, their longest such streak in 10 years which took their record down to 4–7.
Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Hoping to snap a six-game losing streak, the Chargers flew to EverBank Field
TIAA Bank Field is an American football stadium located in Jacksonville, Florida, that primarily serves as the home facility of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) and the headquarters of the professional wrestling prom ...
for a Week 13 Monday night duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team pla ...
. San Diego delivered the game's opening punch with a 13-yard touchdown run from running back Mike Tolbert
William Michael Tolbert (born November 23, 1985) is a former American football fullback. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football for Coastal Carolina University. He has also been a ...
, followed by a 29-yard field goal from kicker Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan Novak (born August 21, 1981) is a former American football placekicker. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Maryland.
Novak has played for the Washington Redskins, A ...
. The Jaguars would answer in the second quarter with quarterback Blaine Gabbert
Blaine Williamson Gabbert (born October 15, 1989) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Missouri before leaving early for the 2011 NFL Draft after hi ...
completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to running back Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Christopher Jones-Drew (born March 23, 1985), often called "MJD", is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and earned una ...
and a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cecil Shorts, yet the Chargers replied with quarterback Philip Rivers
Philip Michael Rivers (born December 8, 1981) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Chargers franchise. He played college football at NC State and was se ...
connecting with rookie wide receiver Vincent Brown on a 22-yard touchdown pass and a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson
Vincent Terrell Jackson (January 14, 1983 – February 15, 2021) was an American professional football player who played as a wide receiver for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northern Colorad ...
.
San Diego added onto its lead in the third quarter with Rivers hooking up with wide receiver Malcom Floyd on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, the Bolts would pull away in the fourth quarter with a 31-yard touchdown run from running back Ryan Matthews.
With the win, the Chargers improved to 5–7.
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the win, the Chargers improved to 6–7.
Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens
With the win, the Chargers improved to 7–7. Qualcomm Stadium was renamed Snapdragon Stadium as a promotion for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon
''Antirrhinum'' is a genus of plants commonly known as dragon flowers, snapdragons and dog flower because of the flowers' fancied resemblance to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed. They are native to r ...
brand.
Week 16: at Detroit Lions
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 7–8.
Week 17: at Oakland Raiders
With the win, the Chargers wrapped up their season at 8–8 and snapped their three-game losing streak against the Raiders.
Standings
Staff
Final roster
Notes and references
{{2011 NFL season by team
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...
San Diego Chargers seasons
2011 in sports in California