Longtime Chargers owner Spanos dies; Jaguars add Charles

Alex Spanos, the son of Greek immigrants who used a self-made fortune from construction and real estate to buy the Chargers in 1984, died Tuesday. He was 95.

The Chargers announced Spanos’ death. Faye Spanos, his wife, died in August at

92.

After building a nationwide construction empire based in Stockton, his Northern California hometown, Spanos realized a lifelong dream of owning an NFL franchise when he bought controlling interest in the San Diego Chargers from Gene Klein in 1984 for about $50 million. He eventually bought all but 3 percent of the team.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hailed Spanos as “an American success story, driven by a tireless work ethic inspired by his humble beginnings.”

Spanos hadn’t been in charge of day-to-day management of the Chargers since 1994, when he turned over the responsibilities to Dean Spanos, his oldest son. Dean Spanos decided to move the Chargers from San Diego to Los Angeles last year.

The team announced in 2008 that Alex Spanos was suffering from dementia, and he eventually stopped attending games.

■ The Jaguars signed former Chiefs and Broncos running back Jamaal Charles to help during Leonard Fournette’s absence. The Jaguars (3-2) lost thirdstring running back Corey Grant (foot) for the season and don’t expect to have Fournette back for several more weeks. Charles spent nine years in Kansas City and played 14 games with Denver last season. He has 7,556 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns, plus 2,586 yards receiving and 20 more scores.

■ The Giants waived former first-round draft pick Ereck Flowers and signed tackle Brian Mihalik off their practice squad to replace him. Flowers was the ninth pick overall in the 2015 draft but never lived up to expectations. The University of Miami product was moved from left to right tackle this season after free agent Nate Solder was signed. He ended up losing that job to Chad Wheeler after two games.

■ Bills rookie starter Josh Allen is gaining a mentor after Buffalo signed veteran quarterback Derek Anderson. The 35-year-old has a 20-27 record over 12 NFL seasons, and spent the past seven serving as Cam Newton’s backup in Carolina.

Golf: U.S. Open and PGA champion Brooks Koepka added to his trophy collection Tuesday when he picked up the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA Tour player of the year.

Koepka is the sixth player in the last six years to win the award, the longest streak of different winners since PGA Tour players began voting on the award in 1990.

Justin Thomas won the Arnold Palmer Trophy for leading the PGA Tour money list for the second straight year, making him the first player since Woods in 200607 to win the money title in consecutive years.

Dustin Johnson won the Byron Nelson Award for having the lowest adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour. He also won the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average, which is awarded by the PGA of America.