Former Team
San Diego Chargers
Team Left
2017
Current NFL Team
None
Franchise Today
Los Angeles Chargers
San Diego isn't an NFL city today, but it used to be. The Chargers played 56 seasons in San Diego before relocating to Los Angeles in 2017, ending one of the NFL's longest single-city tenures without a Super Bowl win.
Bottom line: The Chargers played 56 seasons in San Diego before relocating to Los Angeles in 2017, ending one of the NFL's longest single-city tenures without a Super Bowl win.
How San Diego fits into the NFL's map
| City type | What it means for fans |
|---|---|
| Current NFL city | A home team plays there right now — tickets, tailgates, the full Sunday experience |
| No team, tied to a nearby metro | Fully part of a team's fan base and market, just not the literal host city |
| Former NFL city | Had a team that relocated — often with real, traceable history and a franchise playing elsewhere today |
| No current tie | Nearest NFL football is a regional trip, not a local one — college football often fills the gap instead |
Visiting San Diego for football
- NFL tickets swing hard on opponent and time slot — a Monday or Thursday night marquee game costs far more than an early-season Sunday against a weak opponent.
- Tailgating culture varies a lot by stadium — some lots open hours before kickoff, others have tight restrictions, so check the team's own gameday policy before planning around it.
- Team, stadium and relocation facts here reflect current reporting as of 2026 — stadium situations in particular are moving fast across the league, so it's worth a quick check closer to your travel dates.
FAQs — San Diego and the NFL
Does San Diego have an NFL team?
No — the San Diego Chargers left in 2017.
What happened to San Diego's NFL team?
The Chargers played 56 seasons in San Diego before relocating to Los Angeles in 2017, ending one of the NFL's longest single-city tenures without a Super Bowl win.
Will San Diego get another NFL team?
There's no confirmed plan for the NFL to return, and the city isn't currently part of any active relocation or expansion conversation.
What is San Diego best known for in NFL terms?
Since the Chargers left, San Diego's major pro sports focus has centered on MLB's Padres, and no serious NFL expansion buzz has attached to the city.