[2][6] He only featured on the team's practice squad,[4] and was subsequently traded to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for its third-round pick in the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.
[7] Brittenum made his AFL debut with the Chargers on September 6, 1968, at the age of 24, in a 29–13 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
[8] In a game on December 8 that same year, he replaced John Hadl – who completed just 9 of 25 passes and had six interceptions made off him – in the fourth quarter, but was promptly tackled in his own end zone by Buck Buchanan for a safety.
[9][10] The Chargers ultimately lost that game 40–3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, eliminating them from AFL Western Division contention.
[11] He was subsequently charged with misappropriating his investors' money, with 15 savings and loan associations claiming $30.6 million against his company.