We are 75 days away from seeing the LA Chargers back in action.
Counting today, we are 75 days away from the LA Chargers kicking off their 2020 season in Week 1 against first overall pick Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
To count down the 2020 season, we have been looking back at the best players in franchise history to wear each number that coincides with the number of days remaining until the Bolts are back in action. Thus far, not a single current member of the Chargers has earned the honor.
That will continue with the number 75 as new signing Bryan Bulaga is listed as 75 on the Chargers roster. Bulaga may have been the best signing of the offseason but it would be absurd to say that he is the best to wear his number when he has not even seen the field as a Charger.
Instead, the best number 75 in team history is a different offensive tackle from many, many years ago.
Best number 75 in LA Chargers’ history: Ernie Wright
Ernie Wright was one of the original members of the LA Chargers in their debut season in the AFL in 1960 and he spent eight years in his first tenure with the team up until 1967 and then rejoined the team in 1972 in what was the last year of his career.
Wright wore 75 during his initial tenure with the Chargers, wearing 79 in his second stint with the team.
By playing all the way until the 1972 season, Wright is one of just 20 players that played for the AFC during its 13-year existence before the AFL-NFL merger.
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Wright was more than just a tenured left tackle, though, as he was named to the Pro Bowl three times as a Charger. He was a beacon of consistency as well, as he only missed one game in his career with the Chargers.
Wright leads all players that have ever worn the number 75 for the Chargers in career Approximate Value with 64. Wright is not even close to the next best players on the list, as Marcellus Wiley is the second-best number 75 in team history by this metric and accumulated 25 career AV with the Chargers.
The biggest name to ever wear the number for the Chargers was Hall of Famer, Deacon Jones. However, Jones made his mark on the league during his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, not the Chargers.
Jones spent just two years with the Chargers, although he was a Pro Bowler in one year. He undoubtedly had a better overall career than Wright, but not a better Chargers career.