Like every other Charger on that 1994 team, Gibson will never forget the raucous atmosphere at Qualcomm Stadium after the team returned home from Pittsburgh.

"I remember it like it was yesterday. It was such a great homecoming, and the fans were going crazy. That and the parade after the Super Bowl, going through San Diego with the fans cheering for us and what we accomplished was really big for us. And it was big for the city. Chargers fans were as good as any fans I ever played in front of. They always showed up and cheered us on. It was a great place to play and a great experience. But that night, after coming home from almost all the way across the country from Pittsburgh, to have all those people waiting for us when we came home at the stadium felt so good. Players play not only for themselves, but also for the fans. We were able to give the fans a good gift that day."

In fact, asked what he would like to tell the fans in San Diego today, Gibson offered a simple, heartfelt message.

"Oh man, I love them. I wish I could have stayed longer, but my body was worn out. I have nothing but good memories there with those people and in that city. I love those fans in San Diego. I look back on it now, and it was one of the best times of my life. It is not something you can grasp while you are doing it, but something you recall in hindsight. My wife pulls out pictures occasionally of the time we were there and we look back and say how it was one of the most fun times of our lives."

Gibson fondly recalls how not a week went by where a friend didn't want to visit.

"My first year out there, I rented a little house in Del Mar and I had visitors every weekend whether we were in town or not!" he laughed. "I'd have people call up and say, 'Hey I am coming to town this week and check you out.' I'd say, 'Well, we're playing out of town this weekend,' and they'd say, 'That's fine, you don't have to be there!' That tells you how great of a place it is where people want to come stay at your place even if you are out of town. The whole experience of living out there, I'd ride my Harley to work every day and the positive vibes that we got off of the city and fans, it was pretty impressive."

Initially an eighth round selection of the Detroit Lions in 1987, Gibson spent seven years in the Motor City before leaving for America's Finest City in 1994. While he had a number of suitors lined up, his decision to sign with the Bolts was quite simple.

"That comes up occasionally with people, and the real reason I came was because of Bobby Beathard. In 1991, when I was with the Lions and we lost to the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship game, I don't know if Bobby was still there or had already left to come to San Diego, but I knew he was the guy who was in charge of player personnel for that team. He had the reputation for putting players together to have successful teams. I played against the Redskins a bunch of times, so when San Diego called and said that they were interested, I knew that Beathard was the guy putting the team together and knew he had the history. I had known what he had done in Washington with (Joe) Gibbs as head coach, and I wanted to be a part of that. I thought he was the guy who would give me the best chance of success."

While nobody will ever forget the image of Gibson wildly celebrating his clutch pass breakup, anyone passing through Iowa should stop by Encore Pizza for another memorable experience.

"Try the Encore Combination," he encourages. "It's got sausage, pepperoni, capacolla, mushrooms and green peppers!"