In football, a cornerback is a player who tries to stop the other team from catching passes.
When the quarterback throws the ball, cornerbacks run with the receivers and try to knock the ball away or catch it themselves.
They are like defensive guards who protect their team from big passing plays.
Cornerbacks help stop the other team’s passing game. Without good cornerbacks, the other team can throw the ball easily and score lots of touchdowns.
That’s why every NFL team needs strong, fast, and smart cornerbacks.
The LA Chargers have had some amazing cornerbacks over time. Some played for many years, while others had short but brilliant careers.
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Best NFL LA Chargers Cornerbacks of All Time
Today, we’re going to learn about the Top 10 Best LA Chargers Cornerbacks of All Time. Let’s meet these defensive heroes!
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Top 10 Best NFL LA Chargers Cornerbacks of All Time
10. Jason Verrett
Jason Verrett was incredibly talented, but his career was hurt by many injuries. Even though he was hurt many times, he played great when healthy. His body just couldn’t stay strong enough to play every game.
In 2015, Verrett had an amazing season and made the Pro Bowl. This is a special honor given to the best players in the league. That one full season was so good that it earned him a spot on this list.
Only seven cornerbacks in Chargers history have ever made the Pro Bowl, and Verrett is one of them. His story is sad because fans know he could have been even greater if injuries hadn’t slowed him down.
But at least he can say he’s one of the top 10 cornerbacks in team history.
9. Bob Howard
Bob Howard was drafted in 1967 and played 8 years with the Chargers. During that time, he made 21 interceptions. An interception happens when a cornerback catches a pass that was meant for the other team’s receiver.
Howard was a smart and reliable player who helped the Chargers’ defense for nearly a decade. After leaving the Chargers, he played five more years in the NFL and finished his career with 37 total interceptions.
Here’s a fun fact: Howard played for the famous Coach Don Coryell in college at San Diego State.
Years later, Coryell became the head coach of the Chargers, but that was after Howard had already left the team. Still, both men made their mark on Chargers history.
8. Joe Beauchamp
Joe Beauchamp was special because he could play both cornerback and safety. This gave the Chargers lots of flexibility on defense. He was smart and could play in many spots, which made him very valuable to the team.
Beauchamp played for the Chargers for 10 years and got 23 interceptions during his career. One of his most famous games happened in 1972 when he intercepted 3 passes in a single game against the Denver Broncos. That’s incredibly rare and impressive!
He was the fifth player in Chargers history to catch three interceptions in one game. Since 2007, nobody has done it again. Beauchamp’s versatility and big-game performances make him one of the best defensive backs the team has ever had.
7. Mike Williams
Before there was Mike Williams the wide receiver, there was Mike Williams the cornerback. This Mike Williams was a first-round pick in 1975, which means the Chargers thought he was really good and picked him early in the draft.
Williams played tough and stayed with the team for many years. He spent 8 years with the Chargers from 1975 to 1982 and got 24 interceptions in his Chargers career. That’s one of the highest totals in team history.
Like his modern namesake, injuries slowed down his career and probably ended it earlier than it should have. He only played one more season after leaving the Chargers before retiring. But his eight years of solid play earned him a spot in the top 10.
6. Speedy Duncan
Speedy Duncan had a perfect nickname because he was very fast and exciting to watch! He wasn’t just a great cornerback – he was also an elite return man who brought back punts and kickoffs.
Duncan was a 4-time Pro Bowler, with three of those honors coming during his time with the Chargers. He was so good at returning punts that he led the entire league in average punt-return yards twice. He also scored four punt-return touchdowns in just four years during the 1960s.
As a cornerback, Duncan made 21 interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns. Add in one fumble return touchdown, and Duncan scored seven total touchdowns on defense and special teams – by far the most of anyone on this list. He was a true game-changer who could score from anywhere on the field.
5. Antonio Cromartie
Antonio Cromartie had one of the best single seasons any Chargers cornerback has ever had. In 2007, during just his second year in the league, Cromartie led the entire NFL with 10 interceptions. That’s an amazing number!
That incredible season earned him both a Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro honors. Fans loved his big plays and cool style on the field. He made everything look easy and exciting.
Cromartie went on to have three more Pro Bowl seasons in his career, but 2007 was his only Pro Bowl year in San Diego. He remained a good starting cornerback after that season, but he never quite reached that same level again with the Chargers. Still, that one dominant season was enough to earn him a top-5 spot.
4. Casey Hayward
Casey Hayward was very consistent and smart on the field. He made tough plays look easy with his excellent positioning and timing. Hayward knew how to be in the right place at the right time.
Hayward earned two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro second-team selections during his time with the Chargers.
His best years were 2016 and 2017, when he was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the entire NFL.
He finished his Chargers career with 14 interceptions and played in more games than some of the other stars on this list.
He may not have had one season as spectacular as Cromartie’s 2007, but his two excellent years combined were just as impressive. His reliability and high-level play earn him the number four spot.
3. Quentin Jammer
Quentin Jammer never made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, but he wins the longevity award by a landslide. He played 11 seasons with the Chargers from 2002 to 2012 – that’s a very long time!
Jammer was drafted in the first round in 2002. He was always solid and strong, even if he wasn’t the flashiest player. For most of his career, he was an above-average starting cornerback who gave the team reliable defense year after year.
His best season might have been his last with the Chargers. At age 33, Jammer finished with three interceptions, including a pick-six (an interception returned for a touchdown), and a fumble recovery touchdown.
He proved he could still play at a high level even as he got older. His 11 years of consistent play make him the third-best cornerback in team history.
2. Dick Harris
Dick Harris played at the very beginning of the Chargers’ history. His first season was the team’s first season in existence back in 1960. He was part of the Chargers’ early history and helped build the foundation of the franchise.
In just six seasons, Harris got 29 interceptions. That’s an incredible average of almost five interceptions per year! He was one of the best cornerbacks in the entire AFL (American Football League) during his time.
Harris was a key defensive player who helped the team win its 1963 championship – the only championship in Chargers history.
He was named to the All-AFL first team twice and the All-AFL second team twice.
He’s the only cornerback on this list to be a two-time First-Team All-Pro. He was one of the best in his time, and his championship contribution puts him at number two.
1. Gill Byrd
Gill Byrd is the greatest Chargers cornerback ever, and there really isn’t much debate about it. He set the bar so high that no one has passed him yet, and it may never happen.
Byrd has the most interceptions in Chargers history with an incredible 42 interceptions. That’s way more than anyone else.
The difference between Byrd’s total and the second-place player is 13 interceptions – that’s the same number as the 10th-ranked player’s entire career total!
Byrd was a 2-time Pro Bowler and made the All-Pro second team once.
He played from 1983 to 1992 and was extremely valuable because he could play different positions in the secondary. His versatility and elite play earned him a spot in the Chargers Hall of Fame.
As great as Byrd was, the fact that he’s the runaway best cornerback in franchise history shows how the Chargers have struggled at this position compared to some other NFL teams.
But for Chargers fans, Gill Byrd will always be the gold standard.
Top 10 Chargers Cornerbacks by the Numbers
Here’s a quick look at all ten players ranked by their interceptions:
| Rank | Player Name | Years Played | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gill Byrd | 1983–1992 | 42 |
| 2 | Dick Harris | 1960–1965 | 29 |
| 3 | Mike Williams | 1975–1982 | 24 |
| 4 | Joe Beauchamp | 1966–1975 | 23 |
| 5 | Speedy Duncan | 1964–1970 | 21 |
| 6 | Quentin Jammer | 2002–2012 | 21 |
| 7 | Bob Howard | 1967–1974 | 21 |
| 8 | Antonio Cromartie | 2006–2009 | 15 |
| 9 | Casey Hayward | 2016–2020 | 14 |
| 10 | Jason Verrett | 2014–2017 | 8 |
Conclusion:
The LA Chargers have had many great cornerbacks throughout their history.
Some played long careers spanning over a decade, while others had short but incredibly bright moments.
Each one made the team stronger and gave fans exciting plays to remember.
Gill Byrd is still the best of all time with his 42 interceptions and consistent excellence throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
Players like Dick Harris helped win championships in the early days, while modern stars like Casey Hayward and Antonio Cromartie showed that the Chargers can still find elite cornerback talent.
Maybe one day, a new Charger will take that top spot and break Byrd’s interception record.
Until then, these ten players remain the greatest cornerbacks to ever wear the lightning bolt on their helmets.
They protected the Chargers’ defense, made game-changing plays, and earned their place in team history forever.
