Frank Cornish, C-OG

David Diaz-lnfante, G

Kelvin Garmon, G 

Jim Leonard, G

Raleigh McKenzie, C-G

Scott Mruczkowski, C

Ray Smoot, G-T

The Winner

Doug Wilkerson, G

14 frickin’ seasons as an offensive lineman in the NFL.  14!  That’s fourteen years of getting beat up, assaulted, and basically mugged on every play.  Wait a second… this all sounds familiar.  Yes, as was often the case in there playing days: as Don Macek goes, so goes Doug Wilkerson.  They both played 14 seasons for the Chargers – nine of them together.  Not sure if they finished each other’s sentences, but I’ll bet they could recognize each other’s scents.  And as a reward for their service, back-to-back uncontested Golden Jerseys.

Two things stand out for me as it relates to Wilkerson – well, three if you count the ubiquitous neck pad.  The Chargers were not his first team!  He actually played one year with the Oilers, having been drafted by them in the 1^st round (why they got rid of him, I’ll never know).  So he actually played 15 SEASONS in the NFL.

The other thing was his size.  Wilkerson was as big as a modern day linebacker.  Or should I say, as small.  6’3, 250.  How far we’ve come.  But how far Wilkerson went.  Three Pro Bowls and the Charges Hall of Fame.  And now a Golden Jersey.