1980 San Diego Chargers season

1980 San Diego Chargers season
1980 San Diego Chargers season
Owner	Gene Klein
General manager	Johnny Sanders
Head coach	Don Coryell
Home field	Jack Murphy Stadium
Results
Record	11–5
Division place	1st AFC West
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs; (vs. Bills) 20–14; Lost AFC Championship; (vs. Raiders) 27–34
Pro Bowlers	8 DE Fred Dean; QB Dan Fouts; WR John Jefferson; DT Gary Johnson; WR Charlie Joiner; DT Louie Kelcher; G Doug Wilkerson; TE Kellen Winslow;
AP All-Pros	8 K Rolf Benirschke (2nd team); DE Fred Dean (1st team); QB Dan Fouts (2nd team); WR John Jefferson (1st team); DT Gary Johnson (1st team); WR Charlie Joiner (1st team); DT Louie Kelcher (2nd team); TE Kellen Winslow (1st team);
	← 1979; Chargers seasons; 1981 →;

The 1980 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 11th season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 21st overall. The team failed to improve on their 12–4 record in 1979 and finished 11–5, though they won the AFC West and gained the top seed in the AFC playoffs for the second consecutive season. Their season ended in the AFC Championship Game when they lost to their divisional rivals and the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Oakland Raiders.

San Diego's Air Coryell offense led the league and set new standards in the passing game. Quarterback Dan Fouts passed for 4,715 yards, surpassing his own NFL record. He also set new single-season records for attempts, completions and 300-yard games. Tight end Kellen Winslow and wide receivers John Jefferson and Charlie Joiner each had over 1,000 yards receiving, becoming the first trio of teammates to do so in the same season. The running game was less impactful, despite the mid-season acquisition of running back Chuck Muncie. On defense, the Chargers led the league with 60 sacks. The majority of these came from their starting defensive linemen, Fred Dean, Louie Kelcher, Leroy Jones and Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, known collectively as the “Bruise Brothers”.

In the divisional playoffs, San Diego trailed the Buffalo Bills 14–3 at halftime, but scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to win 20–14. Backup wide receiver Ron Smith scored the winning touchdown in the final minutes. The Chargers were then stopped a game short of the Super Bowl by the Raiders, who took a 28–7 lead in the 2nd quarter. The Chargers again ran off 17 unanswered points, but they couldn't complete the comeback and were defeated 34–27.