Chargers Throwback Uniforms: Powder Blue, San Diego Eras and the Helmet
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- Chargers throwback uniforms include powder blue and the navy Super Chargers alternate.
- Chargers jersey history starts in 1960 in powder blue; Nike makes the modern versions.
- The Chargers began in 1960 in powder blue and white with gold lightning bolts.
- Royal blue came in 1974 and navy in 1985.
- Powder blue became the primary home jersey again in 2019.
- The 2020 rebrand removed navy from the palette.
This guide covers the main looks of the Chargers from 1960 to 2026. It does not list every pants and sock combination.
Chargers uniform timeline
| Year | Change | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1960–1973 | Powder blue and white, gold bolts | The original AFL look |
| 1974 | Dark royal blue | Yellow facemasks arrive |
| 1985 | Navy blue jerseys | Navy replaces royal |
| 1988 | Darker navy; white bolts | A full revamp |
| 2007 | Redesign with powder blue trim | First redesign since 1988 |
| 2019 | Powder blue becomes primary home | Gold facemask returns |
| 2020 | New logos and uniforms; navy removed | Rebrand for Los Angeles |
| 2025 | Super Chargers and Charger Power alternates | Powder blue pants added |
The Chargers jerseys 2026 guide shows which of these looks the team wears this year.
Powder blue beginnings (1960 to 1973)
The Chargers started in 1960 as one of the eight original AFL teams. Wikipedia says the colors were various shades of electric blue, technically called collegiate blue and known as powder blue, or white jerseys, both with gold lightning bolts on the shoulders. The helmets were white with a lightning bolt logo and the player's number. The team wore white pants at first before switching to gold in 1966. In 1973 the numerals on the blue jerseys changed from white to gold.
Royal and navy blue (1974 to 2018)
In 1974 the sky blue became a dark royal blue, the helmet turned dark blue, numbers left the helmet and the facemasks became yellow, making the Chargers one of the first teams with a non-gray facemask. The team switched to navy blue jerseys in 1985 and revamped the uniform in 1988 with an even darker navy and white bolts. In 1994, for the NFL's 75th season, they wore early-1960s uniforms four times, and the powder blue throwback returned in 2000 and was worn once or twice a season from 2002 to 2006. In March 2007 the team unveiled its first redesign since 1988, with powder blue trim and a gold bolt. From 2007 to 2018 it wore the powder blue alternates twice a season.
The Los Angeles era (2017 to today)
The Chargers announced the move to Los Angeles on January 12, 2017. A new "LA" logo was criticized and scrapped within two days. On April 16, 2019 the team said powder blue would be its primary home jersey again. On March 24, 2020 it announced new logos, removing navy from the palette, and on April 21, 2020 it unveiled new uniforms with the bolts back over the shoulders and TV numbers moved to the helmet. For 2024 the royal alternates were shelved. On July 15, 2025 the Chargers introduced the navy "Super Chargers" and gold "Charger Power" alternates and added powder blue pants.
The bolt and other details
The lightning bolt has been the team's mark since 1960, mostly in different colors. A shield logo with a horsehead was used in the AFL years and returned on the field in 2018. In 2002 the team unveiled a leaping white bolt with a blue and thicker yellow outline, and in 2007 it went back to the yellow bolt used on the helmets in 1976. In 2009, for the 50th anniversary of the original AFL teams, the Chargers wore 1963 throwbacks for three games. On October 27, 2003 they wore navy pants with navy jerseys for a Monday Night Football game that was moved to Sun Devil Stadium because of wildfires in Southern California. That was the only all-dark game until 2020.
Chargers throwbacks you can wear today
The Chargers throwback jerseys cover San Diego-era and 1960s powder blue. For the current set, shop the home and away jerseys and the alternate jerseys. The numbers worn by Chargers greats are in the Chargers jersey numbers guide. Everything is in the Los Angeles Chargers jerseys collection.
Quick answers to common searches
Fans often search for “san diego chargers jersey history”. The san diego chargers jersey history is the same story through 2016: powder blue, royal blue, then navy, with the bolt on the shoulders. The team moved to Los Angeles in 2017.
Chargers helmet history
The Chargers helmet was white in the early years, with a bolt in gold or navy and the player’s number, from 1960 to 1973. In 1974 the helmet turned dark blue, the numbers came off and the facemask turned yellow, making the Chargers one of the first teams with a non-gray facemask. In 1988 the facemasks turned navy, in 2007 the team went to a metallic white helmet with a navy facemask, and in 2019 the facemask became gold. After the 2020 uniform reveal, TV numbers moved onto the helmets, which kept gold bolts outlined in powder blue. The navy Super Chargers helmet pays homage to the navy helmets of 1985 to 2006. The Chargers football helmet, San Diego Chargers helmet and Chargers old uniforms searches lead to these changes.
Chargers throwback uniforms were first worn in 1994 for the NFL’s 75th season, then in 2000, from 2002 to 2006 as a regular alternate and in 2009. Read the Chargers uniforms 2026 guide. The full logo story is in the logo history guide. Browse the throwback jerseys and the legends jerseys. For the color codes, see the colors guide.
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Chargers uniform history FAQ
What were the first Chargers colors?
Powder blue and white with gold lightning bolts, in 1960.
When did the Chargers switch to navy?
In 1985, with an even darker navy in 1988.
When did powder blue become the Chargers' primary home jersey?
In 2019.
What are Super Chargers and Charger Power?
The navy and gold alternates introduced in July 2025.