1974 San Diego Chargers season

The 1974 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's fifth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 15th overall. The team improved on their 2–11–1 record in 1973 and finished 5–9. It was Tommy Prothro's first season as the team's head coach. Before the season, the team changed from white helmets and powder blue jerseys—which it had had since its inception in 1960—to royal blue helmets and jerseys. Players' uniform numbers were also removed from the helmets, and the face mask color was changed to yellow. Previously, every team had gray face masks. Chargers equipment manager Sid Brooks and business manager Bob Hood first went to their face mask supplier, Riddell, but they said they could not change the color. Brooks and Hood then approached a dentist who was selling face masks under the brand name Dungard, who was able to change the color by using a dental process. Some players were still wearing old single- and double-bar masks, which Brooks painted yellow himself. The royal blue would remain through 1984, when the helmets and jerseys became a darker shade of blue (navy blue); that blue became even darker in 1988. The Chargers switched back permanently to modified white helmets in 2007. == Offseason == === NFL draft === == Roster == == Preseason == == Regular season == === Schedule === Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. === Standings === === Season summary === ==== Week 1: at Houston Oilers ==== ==== Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals ==== ==== Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins ==== ==== Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Eagles ==== ==== Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders ==== ==== Week 6: at Denver Broncos ==== ==== Week 7: vs. Kansas City Chiefs ==== ==== Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns ==== ==== Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs ==== ==== Week 10: at Oakland Raiders ==== ==== Week 11: at Green Bay Packers ==== ==== Week 12: at New York Jets ==== ==== Week 13: vs. Chicago Bears ==== ==== Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos ==== == Awards == Only one Charger was named to the 1975 Pro Bowl, with tackle Russ Washington a starter on the AFC squad; none were selected for the AP All-Pro first or second teams, though Washington was named the best in his Conference. Woods won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year with 52 of the 78 votes available. == Notes == == References ==