LA Chargers countdown to 2020: Best number 67 in team history

(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

There are 67 days until the LA Chargers are scheduled to return to action.

Counting today, there are officially 67 days until the LA Chargers‘ scheduled Week 1 matchup against first overall pick Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Of course, with the developing nature of the coronavirus pandemic, that could be pushed back.

To count down the potential 2020 season, we have been naming the best players in team history to wear each number coinciding with the number of days remaining until the scheduled Week 1 matchup.

Thus far, only one current Charger has earned the honor of being the best to wear their number. It ironically was someone who is not even great, as it was Sam Tevi with the number 69.

The current number 67 on the Chargers roster is undrafted free agent Ryan Roberts, so he definitely won’t be the second current player to earn the honor. Instead, the best number 67 is an all-time great for the Chargers.

The best number 67 in LA Chargers’ history: Ed White

Ed White dominates the all-time Approximate Value leaderboard for every Charger player to wear the number 67 in team history. He racked up 84 AV in his career with the Chargers, which is 58 more than the next highest total.

Overall, White spent 17 years in the NFL and racked up a total of 151 career AV as he spent the first nine years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.

However, his best years were still his years with the Chargers as he had more AV with the Bolts than he had with the Vikings despite playing one fewer season. To be fair, though, White was named a Pro Bowler three times with the Vikings and just once with the Chargers.

RELATED: Legendary numbers that deserve to be retired

White debuted in the NFL in 1969 after being selected in the second round of the NFL Draft and eventually made his way to San Diego in 1978. From there, White was a staple of the offensive line all the way until 1985, mostly spending time at right guard.

On top of being an above-average offensive lineman for eight seasons, white was also a beacon of consistency. He missed one game in his first year with the Chargers and did not miss another game until the 1984 season, where he missed one game.

Overall, White played in 119 of 121 games while he was a Charger. He ranks 19th since the merger for the most games started by a Charger with 117. He is sixth among fellow offensive linemen.

There is no number 67 that even comes close to Ed White and it will take someone being an above-average lineman for a decade to earn that honor.

Schedule