The 1973 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–9–1 record in 1972. It was Harland Svare final season as the teams head coach. The team got legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas from the Baltimore Colts, but Unitas was a shell of his former greatness. In the middle of the season he would be replaced by Dan Fouts as the team's quarterback.