text: In 2003, the Chargers traded Seau to the Dolphins for a draft pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Before he left, Seau's teammates awarded him the Emil Karas Award for the team's Most Inspirational Player. Tomlinson accumulated 195 total yards from scrimmage in a late season game against the Packers to raise his season total to 2,011. He became the first Charger and the eighth player in NFL history to record consecutive 2,000-yard seasons. Tomlinson also became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season.
  The Chargers were the host team for the Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXVII.
  The 2004 season saw the Chargers win their first divisional title since 1994 with a 12–4 record. They quickly were eliminated by the New York Jets in the first round of the playoffs, 20–17 in overtime.
  During the 2005 NFL Draft, the Chargers drafted key rookies who would help carry the momentum from the 2004 success. The Chargers used their first pick to gain Shawne Merriman from the University of Maryland. Their next picks included Luis Castillo from Northwestern University, Vincent Jackson from Northern Colorado, Darren Sproles from Kansas State, Wesley Britt from Alabama University, Wes Sims from Oklahoma University, and center, Scott Mruczkowski from Bowling Green State.