In the annals of professional football, few stories are as gripping and contentious as that of the 1963 San Diego Chargers. That year, the Chargers not only pulled off a spectacular reversal of fortune from their previous season’s 4-10 slump to clinch the AFL Championship with a 51-10 win over the Boston Patriots, but they also became pioneers in the controversial use of anabolic steroids. The narrative of the ’63 Chargers is one of ingenuity, domination, and a subsequent legacy marked by scrutiny over their steroid regimen.
Under the harsh conditions at Rough Acres Ranch, far from the trappings of modern comforts, the Chargers forged a team unity and a ferocious competitive edge. Coach Sid Gillman, a respected innovator known for his intelligence-driven approach to the game, introduced the first strength coach and a weightlifting program to pro football. Players were compelled to take the steroid Dianabol thrice daily, which was legal and not banned at the time. Offensive guard Pat Shea recounted the surprising increase in his strength, while the regimen’s compulsory nature lasted for several weeks before becoming voluntary upon the players’ discovery of its potential health risks.
For over four decades, the narrative of the 1963 Chargers has remained consistent: enduring a hilariously grueling training camp, dominating the American Football League regular season with a legendary offensive line, basking in the brilliance of wide receiver Lance Alworth, and ultimately claiming the AFL championship with a resounding 51-10 victory over the Boston Patriots. It stands as San Diego’s sole professional championship triumph.
However, in the past two decades, steroids have faced intense public scrutiny, and some of that attention has circled back to the team’s origins. The tale of the ’63 Chargers demands a reevaluation.
While memories may be foggy and recollections varied, one fact remains evident: during the training camp of 1963, the Chargers administered 5 mg of Dianabol to their players three times daily for a period of at least four or five weeks. Following objections raised by players, including Mix, during a team meeting before the regular season, the pills ceased being mandatory but remained readily accessible for at least two seasons. Documents from a subsequent lawsuit revealed that Chargers team physicians continued to prescribe Dianabol for certain players from 1965 until at least 1970, although those players who spoke to ESPN claimed to be unaware of it at the time.
The early 1960s AFL provided fertile ground for the cultural experimentation that would soon sweep the nation as the decade progressed and the conservative sensibilities of the ’50s faded. While players still adhered to authority, the nature of the league itself, as an alternative to the established NFL, encouraged innovation and rebellion.
“It was like the wild, wild West,” recalls guard Walt Sweeney. “Everything went. There was speed, painkillers, steroids. And if there was a guy around like Terrell Owens at that time, someone would have kicked his ass all over the field.”
By the early ’60s, the influx of pills into football was inevitable. Historian Matt Chaney, author of “Spiral of Denial: Muscle Doping in American Football,” notes that at least two high school football programs had already administered Dianabol to players. Additionally, the late Bob Waters of the San Francisco 49ers revealed that he and several unnamed teammates had experimented with Dianabol in 1962.
Gillman, the seasoned coach with nearly three decades of experience before the 1963 season, had already solidified his status as a Hall of Famer. His innovative passing strategy, characterized by precise timing and quick quarterback releases coupled with deep aerial attacks, revolutionized the sport.
Gillman’s meticulous use of film, both to analyze his own team and scout opponents, was unprecedented, to the extent that he even brought game footage on his honeymoon. Despite his success, he remained humble, constantly seeking new insights and perspectives from colleagues and experts, demonstrating a relentless pursuit of improvement and innovation.