LA Chargers countdown to 2020: Best number 89 in team history

There are 89 days until we see the LA Chargers back in action in the 2020 season.

Counting today, there are officially 89 days until the LA Chargers kickoff their 2020 season in Week 1 against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.

To properly countdown the impending 2020 season, we have been naming the best player in team history to wear the number that coincides with the number of days remaining. Thus far, not a single current Charger has taken home the honors of the best to wear their number.

Today, we start moving from the defensive line and the 90s to wide receivers and tight ends in the 80s. Despite the position change, the streak of a current Charger not taking home the honors will continue.

The current number 89, listed on the roster on the LA Chargers website, is Jason Moore, who is entering his second year with the team and had a total of two receptions for 43 yards in 2019.

The greatest number 89 in LA Chargers’ history: Wes Chandler

Wes Chandler was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Chargers during the 1981 season, playing 12 games with the Bolts in his first year with the team.

Chandler is not only one of the greatest wide receivers in team history, but he was one of the greatest in league history once he decided to hang it up. Chandler played all the way through the 1987 season with the Chargers, totaling 94 games with the Bolts.

In those 94 games, Chandler hauled in 373 receptions for 6,132 yards and 41 receiving touchdowns. Chandler ranks 10th in franchise history in receptions (seventh among receivers), seventh in receiving yards (fifth among receivers) and sixth in receiving touchdowns (fourth among receivers).

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He was a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro with the Chargers. His best season was 1982, where he led the league in receiving yards (1,032) and touchdowns (nine).

He truly was an elite receiver for his time and the only reason he is as low as he is in the franchise ranks is because of how the game has evolved since he last played. At the time of his retirement, Chandler ranked 12th all-time in receiving yards and 13th all-time in receiving touchdowns.

He is by far the best player in franchise history to wear the number 89. The next best, at least in terms of career Approximate Value with the Chargers, is Chris Chambers, who accumulated 13 AV with the Bolts compared to Chandler’s 67.

Chambers had a really solid career, finishing with over 7,000 receiving yards and 58 total touchdowns, but he only played 31 games with the Chargers, starting 21, and was rather mediocre.