finished the season 11–5 and won the AFC West title, making their first playoff appearance in a decade. Ross was named AFC Coach of the Year. In the Wild Card Round, the Chargers shut out the Kansas City Chiefs 17–0. Then, they were shut out by the Miami Dolphins in the divisional round, 31–0. In 1993, the Chargers finished 8–8, finishing fourth in the division. 1994–2005 1994: AFC Champions In the 1994 season, the Chargers won 11–5. Quarterback Stan Humphries and wide receiver Tony Martin, worked together to make a 99-yard touchdown completion. The players contributing to the Chargers' 1994 AFC West Division championship included linebacker Junior Seau, defensive tackles Reuben Davis and Shawn Lee and defensive end, Leslie O'Neal, and running back Natrone Means, Humphries and Martin who made offensive moves. In the playoffs, the Chargers unexpectedly defeated the Dolphins 22–21 in the divisional round and the Steelers 17–13 in the AFC Championship Game. The Chargers were defeated by the 49ers 49–26 in Super Bowl XXIX. Despite the Super Bowl loss, Beathard, who was responsible for the team lineup and choice of coach, was named the "NFL's Smartest Man" by Sports Illustrated. However, the Chargers' 1995 season proved less successful. The team reached the playoffs with a 9–7 record but was defeated by the Indianapolis Colts 35–20. 1996–2001 During the 1996 season, running back Rodney Culver was killed in the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Florida Everglades. Linebacker David Griggs had been killed in a single-car crash in Davie, Florida eleven months earlier. In the 1997 season, Beathard dismissed Ross. Kevin Gilbride became the Chargers' new head coach. Gilbride encouraged a more open passing attack, a major change in offensive style. Humphries suffered several concussions due to a lack of pass protection and retired. After trades of players and draft choices to the Arizona Cardinals, Beathard selected quarterback Ryan Leaf with the second pick of the 1998 NFL Draft. In the 1998 season, the Chargers went 5–11. Rodney Harrison said, "If I had to go through another year like that, I'd probably quit playing." When Gilbride left, he was replaced by an interim head coach, June Jones, a member of the Chargers' staff. Jones left the team at the end of the 1998 season to coach at the University of Hawaii. The Chargers' new head coach was Mike Riley from Oregon State University. Due to his poor