| 2021 Los Angeles Chargers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Dean Spanos |
| General manager | Tom Telesco |
| Head coach | Brandon Staley |
| Home field | SoFi Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–8 |
| Division place | 3rd AFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | |
| AP All-Pros | 3
|
| Uniform | |
 | |
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The 2021 season was the Los Angeles Chargers' 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 62nd overall, their sixth in the Greater Los Angeles Area, their second playing their home games at SoFi Stadium and their first under head coach Brandon Staley. They improved upon their 7–9 season from the previous year after a win over the New York Giants, finishing 9–8 but narrowly missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season after a Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. In that game, they were beaten by a field goal as time expired in overtime when a tie would have put both teams in the playoffs.
Los Angeles began the season 4–1, but were only 5–7 over the remaining twelve games. Highlights included road victories over the Bengals and Chiefs, who contested the AFC Championship Game at the end of the season. Staley implemented an aggressive offensive policy that saw the team often spurn punts or field goals in favor of going for it on 4th down, and the Chargers set a record for most 4th down conversions in a season with 22 from 34 attempts. Staley's philosophy was criticized after failed attempts in overtime defeats to the Chiefs and Raiders.
During the offseason, Los Angeles had prioritized an upgrade of their offensive line, with 1st-round draft pick Rashawn Slater joining free-agent signings Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler. Aided by their protection, quarterback Justin Herbert set numerous team records, and became the first Charger to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. His top receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, each had over 1,100 receiving yards. While the running game was less effective, running back Austin Ekeler, through a mix of rushing and receiving, scored 20 touchdowns, a feat previously achieved only by LaDainian Tomlinson in franchise history. The defense was weaker than the offense, despite strong seasons from edge rusher Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James, who returned after missing the entire 2020 season through injury. They struggled particularly against the run and gave up several big plays on the ground during their season-ending defeat.