Chargers unveil throwback uniforms honoring San Diego era

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers unveiled their latest uniform update on Tuesday, July 15, leaning once again into nostalgia with a modern twist—much like they did in 2020. 

This time, they’re paying homage to one of the franchise’s most electrifying eras: the Air Coryell days.

At the center of the reveal is a bold gold jersey, inspired by the iconic “Charger Power” shirts that once flooded the stands at San Diego Stadium—better known as “The Murph.” 

It’s a tribute to the high-flying offenses led by Dan Fouts and a cast of dynamic playmakers like Wes Chandler, John Jefferson, and Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr., who helped revolutionize the passing game and energize a generation of fans.

“Charger Power was real, it wasn’t just a slogan on a T-shirt,” Fouts said in a press release by the team. “That stadium was absolutely alive every time we took the field. We had to calm everyone down, they were so excited.”

Both the jersey and pants are gold, featuring the signature bolt across the shoulders in powder blue with a white fill. The look is completed with the team’s current white helmet, which has been a staple since 2020.

The Chargers will debut the new look during “Legends Weekend” on October 19th when they host the Indianapolis Colts.

“We’ve always considered ourselves to be leaders in the uniform space,” President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos said in the press release. “We take pride in the fact that the Chargers are widely considered to have the best uniforms in the NFL; some even argue in all of sports. One of the main reasons for that is our continued push to evolve, authentically, with every opportunity.”

Another key detail from Tuesday’s reveal: the return of the beloved “Super Chargers” theme song. The catchy “San Diego... Super Chargers” jingle, once a Qualcomm Stadium staple, is making its way back into the game day experience.

These uniforms also pay tribute to the iconic eras of Junior Seau and LaDainian Tomlinson—reminding fans of the energy, passion, and pride that defined those legendary Chargers teams.

“They were the hardest jerseys in football,” former Charger Shawne Merriman said in the release. “They were so original and had a gritty feeling to them — we were going to go out there and run the football, play great defense and hit you in the mouth. You were going to get four quarters of pure hell. That’s what those navy jerseys and helmets meant. When we came out in those navies, you knew what time it was.”

In these uniforms, the 1994 Chargers made their only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Years later, LaDainian Tomlinson wore them during his record-setting 2006 season, when he scored an NFL-record 31 total touchdowns.

“It’s a Seau-type of feeling,” linebacker Daiyan Henley said in the release. “We’re trying to tap back into those legends. It’s a nod to them and a nod to the past. I want to do right by this jersey.”

The team will wear the “Super Chargers” uniforms on Thursday, October 23, when they host the Minnesota Vikings—a fitting night as they induct legendary safety Rodney Harrison into the Chargers Hall of Fame. Harrison famously wore that same jersey during his tenure with the team. The Bolts will also bring the look back in Week 13 for their rivalry game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“When you saw that jersey, more than likely you were in Qualcomm Stadium,” Tomlinson said in the release. “And, more than likely, if you were on the other team in that era you were leaving with a loss.”

To complete the retro aesthetic, the Chargers are pairing these uniforms with a navy blue helmet—nearly identical to the one worn during the Seau and Tomlinson years—with one minor update: the inclusion of jersey numbers beneath the bolt decal.

The team also unveiled new powder blue pants, designed to mix and match with either the primary home powder blue jersey or the road white version.

Chargers fans got a little bit of everything on Tuesday—past, present, and future all stitched into two bold uniform drops.

“Pretty soon after our 2020 uniform launch we began getting the question, ‘Why don’t you have powder blue pants?’ We heard it from fans and players alike,” said Spanos. “Everyone wanted what we knew was probably a missing look, but rules only allowed for so many pant options and we were at our limit. We knew this time around we needed to be creative in how we could incorporate them into our uniform kit, and we’re excited to bring even more versatility to our primary look for 2025 and beyond.”