1997 San Diego Chargers season

1997 San Diego Chargers season
Head coach	Kevin Gilbride
General manager	Bobby Beathard
Owner	Alex Spanos
Home field	Qualcomm Stadium
Results
Record	4–12
Division place	5th AFC West
Playoff finish	did not qualify

The 1997 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–8 record in 1996. It was Kevin Gilbride's first season as the teams head coach. The team's stadium, Qualcomm Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXII at the end of the season.

Personnel

Staff

1997 San Diego Chargers staff
	Front office Chairman of the Board – Alex Spanos President/Vice Chairman – Dean Spanos General Manager – Bobby Beathard Director of Player Personnel – Billy Devaney Director of Pro Personnel – Rudy Feldman Coordinator of Football Operations – Marty Hurney Head coaches Head Coach – Kevin Gilbride Assistant Head Coach – Nick Nicolau Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator – Mike Sheppard Running Backs – Ollie Wilson Wide Receivers – Tyrone Dixon Tight Ends – Bill MacDermott Offensive Line – George DeLeone Offensive Assistant – Mike Cavanaugh			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Joe Pascale Defensive Line – Wayne Nunnely Linebackers – Jim Vechiarella Defensive Backs – Rod Perry Defensive Assistant – Kevin Lempa Special teams coaches Special Teams – Frank Novak Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – John Hastings

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	August 31, 1997	at New England Patriots	L 41–7	60,190
2	September 7, 1997	at New Orleans Saints	W 20–6	65,760
3	September 14, 1997	Carolina Panthers	L 26–7	63,149
4	September 21, 1997	at Seattle Seahawks	L 26–22	51,110
5	September 28, 1997	Baltimore Ravens	W 21–17	54,094
6	October 5, 1997	at Oakland Raiders	W 25–10	43,648
7	Bye
8	October 16, 1997	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 31–3	77,196
9	October 26, 1997	Indianapolis Colts	W 35–19	63,177
10	November 2, 1997	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 38–31	53,754
11	November 9, 1997	Seattle Seahawks	L 37–31	64,616
12	November 16, 1997	Oakland Raiders	L 38–13	65,714
13	November 23, 1997	at San Francisco 49ers	L 17–10	61,195
14	November 30, 1997	Denver Broncos	L 38–28	54,245
15	December 7, 1997	Atlanta Falcons	L 14–3	46,317
16	December 14, 1997	Kansas City Chiefs	L 29–7	54,594
17	December 21, 1997	at Denver Broncos	L 38–3	69,632

Standings

AFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(1) Kansas City Chiefs	13	3	0	.813	375	232	W6
(4) Denver Broncos	12	4	0	.750	472	287	W1
Seattle Seahawks	8	8	0	.500	365	362	W2
Oakland Raiders	4	12	0	.250	324	419	L5
San Diego Chargers	4	12	0	.250	266	425	L8