Editing Johnny Unitas (section)

===San Diego===
Unitas was traded from the Colts to the [[History of the San Diego Chargers|San Diego Chargers]] on January 20, 1973, in a transaction that originally had future considerations returning to Baltimore. The deal's only obstacle was the personal services contract he had signed with the Colts in 1970 which would have kept him employed within the organization on an annual salary of $30,000 over ten years once his career as an active player ended. The pact had been signed when the ballclub was owned by [[Carroll Rosenbloom]] who subsequently acquired the [[Los Angeles Rams]] on July 13, 1972, in a franchise swap with [[Robert Irsay]]. The deal was completed when the Chargers purchased that contract. Eager to sever all ties with the Colts, Unitas signed a new two-year contract with the Chargers on June 8, 1973. He succeeded [[John Hadl]] who had requested and was granted a trade to the Rams.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/23/archives/unitas-is-traded-to-chargers-but-says-he-may-not-report-unitas-is.html| last= Wallace| first= William N.| title= Unitas Is Traded to Chargers, But Says He May Not Report| work= The New York Times| date= January 23, 1973| access-date= November 3, 2020| archive-date= November 11, 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201111193038/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/23/archives/unitas-is-traded-to-chargers-but-says-he-may-not-report-unitas-is.html| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/09/archives/gabriel-is-traded-to-eagles-by-rams-unitas-signs-pact-chargers-sign.html| title= Gabriel Is Traded To Eagles by Rams; Unitas Signs Pact| work= The New York Times| date= June 9, 1973| access-date= November 3, 2020| archive-date= April 15, 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230415121252/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/09/archives/gabriel-is-traded-to-eagles-by-rams-unitas-signs-pact-chargers-sign.html| url-status= live}}</ref>

Unitas started the season with a 38–0 loss to the [[Washington Redskins]]. He threw for just 55 yards and three interceptions and was sacked five times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Washington Redskins - September 16th, 1973 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197309160was.htm |access-date=October 7, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> His final victory as a starter came against the [[Buffalo Bills]] in Week 2. Unitas was 10–18 for 175 yards, two touchdown passes, and no interceptions in a 34–7 Chargers rout.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197309230sdg.htm |title=Box Score, Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers, September 23, 1973 |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-date=October 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018003018/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197309230sdg.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Unitas threw two first-half interceptions, passed for only 19 yards, and went 2-for-9 against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. He was then replaced by rookie quarterback and future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Dan Fouts]]. After posting a 1–3 record as a starter, Unitas retired in the preseason of 1974.