Former Chargers DB Joe Beauchamp dies at 76

Former Chargers defensive back Joe Beauchamp died on Wednesday at the age of 76. He played 10 seasons with the Chargers from 1966-1975, spanning the bridge when the team played in the AFL and then when the leagues combined to become the NFL in 1970.

Beauchamp played collegiately at Iowa State University. He was selected by the Chargers in the sixth round of the 1996 AFL Redshirt Draft, which was used back then as a draft of “future picks” where the player selected would go on to play their final season at school before joining the team.

As a Charger, Beauchamp played in 117 games with 81 starts. He finished his career with 23 total interceptions, returning three of them for touchdowns. Beauchamp is still tied for the team record with three interceptions in a single game which he accomplished against the Denver Broncos in 1972. His 23 interceptions are sixth-most in team history while his 433 interception return yards are fourth in team annals.