Disc 1
Start from the start, right? That’s exactly what NFL Films veteran and Executive Producer Steve Sabol does with this project. Twelve chapters make up the first disc, and their names are pretty self-explanatory. They are:
-Legend of the Lightning Bolt
-Tale of Two Cities
-El Sid
-The Restless ’70s
-Air Coryell
-Team of the ’80s
-Super Season
-A Time of Transition
-Martyball
-Triumph And Tragedy
-Building Blocks
-The Right Direction
After a two minute highlight reel showing the Chargers of old and new, the explanation of their origin from 1959 is given. Sid Gillman, their coach for the first decade, is interviewed and plenty of vintage footage is shown. AFL Championship games are talked about, and Gillman’s air based offensive philosophy is discussed. Success in the ’60s didn’t directly translate to the 70s, but in ’79, Dan Fouts and crew started something special. The 80’s were huge for the Chargers, being the first team in NFL history to average more than 400 yards per game. Fouts was setting franchise records left and right, while Kellen Winslow was cementing his name as perhaps the best Tight End ever. Recent interviews of the players involved at the time are included.
Fast forward to the ’94 season, which saw the Chargers battle through the AFC as underdogs and on the heels of Natrone Means. They got to the Superbowl, but lost heavily to the 49ers. After this loss, the Chargers’ future was shaky, with the disappointing Ryan Leaf mentioned briefly. In 2002, former Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer took the reigns and did some great things with the Chargers. The program finishes up with a more current look at the Chargers including new coach Turner, QB Phil Rivers, and running back LT.
The extras on this disc start with “Don Coryell – Offensive Innovator,” a documentary from 1990. This six and a half minute segment acts as a career-biography of the great offensive coordinator. Next up is “Lance Alworth: The Man Called Bamb!” which is about the fast and very talented Charger receiver. Highlights, and interviews of Lance and teammates are shown during this six minute feature. Finally, the third extra feature is “Dickie Post: The Age of Aquarius.” This 1988 segment is about the Chargers’ half back from 1967-1969. He later went to play on for other teams, but the quick-cutting, great open field runner is interviewed and documented here for the five minute duration of this segment.
Disc 2
The second disc is primarily about the Chargers’ best team — that from the 1981 season. This content is a part of the NFL Network’s “Champions Without Rings,” series. As you’d expect, lots of highlights, sideline audio, and player interviews are presented. The chapter breakdown is as follows:
-You Play To Win
-The New Coach
-Charger Power
-Stumbling Blocks
-Coming Together
-AFC West Champs
-The Longest Day
-Insanity On Ice
Extra content begins with “In Their Own Words – Junior Seau.” As a fan of Seau, this forty-five minute segment was pretty cool. I’m not sure when it was created, but obviously back when Seau was at his prime in the 90s. Seau takes us around San Diego and onto the field, with various highlights and lots of commentary by Seau himself. Next up is “Luis Castillo – Chargers Warrior,” lasting about thirteen minutes. “The Comeback of Romen Oben” is third, and runs eight minutes, while “Charlie Joiner – The Hands of Time,” running four minutes, is about the impressive receiver. Lastly, “Dan Fouts – Field General” is a short, nearly three minute, vintage segment with Dan Fouts highlights and an interview from the 80s.
That’s it folks. To the summary.