The San Diego Chargers' Worst-Ever Quarterbacks

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18 Oct 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers looks to throw during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Eagles 13-10Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport

Writing about the greatest Charger quarterbacks was easy. This assignment is a little tougher. Ryan Leaf of course holds the title as the all time worst Chargers quarterback, but he had some stiff competition.

We will take a stroll through Charger history and try to detail some of the busts that have taken snaps behind center for the Bolts.

Ed Luther was groomed as Dan Fouts eventual successor

LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 18: Quarterback Ed Luther #11 of the San Diego Chargers tucks the shoulder pads into the jersey of teammate Chuck Muncie #46 during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 18, 1983 in

Ed Luther had a decent enough arm, but was not up to the rigors of running
the Air Coryell offense.

If you blinked , you missed his career in San Diego where he compiled a 2-7 record as a starter. Luther's main claim to fame is the six interceptions he tossed in one game in 1983, against the Washington Redskins.

He eventually ended up with the Atlanta Falcons.

Moses Moreno Crashed and Burned in 2000

SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Moses Moreno #13 of the San Diego Chargers scrambles as he is sacked by Jason Taylor #99 of the Miami Dolphins on November 12, 2000 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Dolphins defeated the Chargers 17-

Moses Moreno? Talk about obscure, Moreno started for then head coach Mike Riley in 2000. The word BRUTAL comes to mind, as Moses moved about as well as Charlton Heston did AS Moses.

Moreno started two games, losing both, and was never heard from again. Moreno took a good sack however...

Jim Everett Played for the Chargers in 1997

31 Aug 1997: Quarterback Jim Everett of the San Diego Chargers stands behind center during a game against the New England Patriots at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won the game, 41-7. Mandatory Credit: Tomasso DeRosa /Allsport

I almost forgot about Jim Everett, as I had blacked out that whole season in my mind. Everett came to the Chargers as a big name quarterback from the Los Angeles Rams in 1997.

Jim compiled a gigantic 1-0 lifetime record as a Charger quarterback.

Babe Laufenberg Got his Shot in 1988

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 4: Quarterback Babe Laufenberg #12 of the San Diego Chargers runs with the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 4, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 2

Babe Laufenberg? The Chargers might as well have started Babe Ruth, given how small the Babe looked behind center—Laufenberg actually was not that bad, but he played on a terrible Chargers team, and basically had no chance. Laufenberg racked up a 2-4 record as a starter.

The Babe had one highlight as a Charger- and it was in a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, where he led a 21-point comeback in the fourth quarter, teaming with WR Darren Flutie. Were you there? I was...

Erik Kramer Wore Lightning Bolts in 1999

8 Aug 1999: Quarterback Erik Kramer #12 of the San Diego Chargers rolls out to pass against the Denver Broncos during the first quarter of the American Bowl at Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wilson/ALLSPORT

Erik Kramer came to San Diego as an upgrade—but he only won two games as the Chargers starting quarterback. Kramer started just four games before the Chargers moved on.

Mark Malone Came Home to San Diego in 1988

OAKLAND, CA ?? 1984: Quarterback Mark Malone #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers finds a receiver during a 1984 NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Tony Duffy/Getty Images)

Mark Malone had the impossible task of replacing Dan Fouts. Malone was not the worst quarterback in Chargers history, but he only managed two wins out of eight starts.

Malone did give the Miami Dolphins and Dan Marino fits one afternoon in Miami, but still lost 31-28.

Malone graduated from El Cajon High school, a suburb of San Diego.

Billy Joe Tolliver Never had a Chance

Quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver #11 of the New Orleans Saints in action during the game against the Carolina Panthers at the Eriksson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers defeated the Saints 31-17.

Billy Joe "Overthrow" Tolliver lasted 19 starts as the chargers quarterback, and he went 8-11. Tolliver had as good an arm as anyone in the league- touch was his problem.

Tolliver would throw a five-yard out pass as hard as he could, usually smashing the receiver in the face with it, and underthrew when going down field.

Tollivers best game for the Chargers was at Washington in 1989, where he threw for 351 yards in a losing effort. against the Redskins.

Billy Joe finished his career in New Orleans.

Bob Gagliano Started One Game for the Chargers in 1992

6 Sep 1992: Quarterback Bob Gagliano of the San Diego Chargers looks to pass the ball during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chiefs won the game, 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport

With recently acquired Stan Humphries waiting in the wings in 1992, the Gagman got all of one start, which he lost. The Chargers were STILL trying to replace Dan Fouts, who retired after the 1987 season.

Gag is not a good word when discussing quarterbacks. ;)

The King- Ryan Leaf

24 Dec 2000: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers passes the ball during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Steelers defeated the Chargers 34-21.Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Alls

I will never forget watching Leaf bounce a football in front of my seats all afternoon after he was benched, completely isolating himself from the coaches and teammates.

Ryan showed no interest in winning, or learning how to. It was all so easy in college, and Leaf just could not deal with the fact that NFL defenses were much more sophisticated that the ones he had faced in college.

Leaf went 4-14 in his 18 starts for the Chargers.

In fairness to Leaf, he didn't study under Don Coryell or Marty Schottenheimer, he was force to deal with the Chargers all time worst head coach,
Kevin Gilbride.

Gilbride destroyed both Leaf and Stan Humphries in the short time he was the head coach.

To this day, Gilbride has never taken responsibility for throwing Leaf to the wolves, with almost no training or guidance.

Who know how Ryan's career would have turned out if he had been tutored by Bill Walsh or Bill Cowher. At least he was nice to Nikki, his Charger Girl wife at the time...

I am sure I left off some names, feel free to contribute your own Chargers worst quarterback memories...

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