logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
26m 6s

Cocaine, Disco, And A Football Revolutio...

Wondery
About this episode

When we think about innovative teams that have shaped the way offense is played in the NFL today, one of the first that comes to mind is the Bill Walsh-era San Francisco 49ers. However, there’s another trailblazing team from the same era that has arguably had just as big an impact on the sport. Today, we tell the story of the high-flying, but somewhat forgotten San Diego Chargers of the late 1970s and 80s, led by a brash quarterback (Dan Fouts) and visionary coach (Don Coryell). Plus, the stories of drug-fueled performances — and a mysterious gunshot wound — that still follow the team today. 

Guest: Zak Keefer, The Athletic

Read the full story here

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jun 23
Listen Now: Liberty Lost
In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The H ... Show More
5m 55s
May 22
Listen Now: Mind the Game
LeBron James and Steve Nash sit down for an unfiltered, in-depth conversation about basketball—how it’s played, how it’s evolved, and what it really means to understand the game.From breaking down the Nash dribble and the evolution of the short roll, to dissecting playoff adjustm ... Show More
4m 33s
Jan 2024
The Lead Says Farewell
An announcement about our showSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
3m 50s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2021
Madden NFL video game is back
With the NFL and college football around the corner, we discuss the launch of popular sports video game Madden NFL 22.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
3m 45s
Jan 2024
Sports! — Bear Go Down, Pack Go Up
Patrick and Rob get together to unpack the stark realization that the Green Bay Packers may, in fact, have done it again, while talking through the shocking amount of high-profile coaching firings in the NFL and the series of blowout games that ultimately defined NFL’s Wild Card ... Show More
1h 56m
May 2023
How the Oakland A’s Stole the Plot of ‘Major League’
In the nearly 150-year history of professional sports in America, very few teams – if any – have used the threat of relocation quite like the Athletics. The baseball club began in 1901 in Philadelphia before moving to Kansas City in 1955, and eventually settled in its present hom ... Show More
28m 43s
Jun 2020
Special Teams: The Greatest Show On Turf Closes
The Rams Greatest Show on Turf thrilled and excited football fans everywhere at the turn of the 21st century, as their offense was like nothing we had seen in the NFL in years. But like everything else in life, it had to come to an end. But, whew - how it did so is worthy of it’s ... Show More
44m 36s
Dec 2022
The Lions Can’t Stop… Winning?
Plus: The NBA’s newest rivalry gets a little bit spicier. And Steve Cohen’s off-season spending spree continues.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
12m 53s
Dec 2020
The NFL's Covid Crisis
The NFL playoffs are just weeks away but the league is still figuring out how to defeat its most formidable opponent to date: Covid-19. A flurry of outbreaks have delayed games and sidelined players on multiple teams. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with ... Show More
16m 15s
May 2023
How the NFL Schedule Release Has Turned Into the League’s Met Gala
The 2023 NFL Schedule is set to release tonight, and we are once again reminded just how much people love football more than any other sport in the United States. Although the only new parts unveiled tonight are the time slots and dates of each game for every team, it’s the manne ... Show More
26m 10s
Sep 2021
Fight For Iowa - 1970 Undefeated Big Ten Champion Basketball Team
Led by Hall of Fame coach Ralph Miller, the 1970 Iowa Hawkeyes struggled with consistency out of the gate to rally and wear the label as arguably the greatest team in Hawkeye Hoops history. With the Iowa Fieldhouse serving as a raucous backdrop, the six pack entered Big Ten play ... Show More
12m 16s
Feb 2019
USFL vs NFL - Risky Business | 7
Mike Pesca, Slate, joins to talk about the biggest risks facing the NFL, whether the Patriots are good or bad for the league, and what our culture would look like if football never took off as a professional sport in the first place. Plus, he talks about his latest book, Upon Fur ... Show More
29m 28s