"We've had conversations from last February and there was an interest there," said Steeg, who was involved in the Pro Bowl as the NFL's senior vice president in charge of special events before joining the Chargers last November.

The only preseason NFL game to be played in Hawai'i took place Aug. 21, 1976, when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chargers, 17-16, before 36,364 at Aloha Stadium.

The NFL has played its postseason Pro Bowl games in Hawai'i since 1980, selling out the 50,000-seat stadium each year.

Steeg said he has discussed the possibility with a few teams he declined to identify, and said, "we'd look at 2006."

Rex Johnson, Hawai'i Tourism Authority president and CEO who worked with Steeg in negotiating a deal to keep the Pro Bowl here until 2009, said the two have had "extremely preliminary talks."

"If it's something that makes sense as far as tourism and the branding of Hawai'i as a sports destination, we would certainly take a look at it," Johnson said.

Steeg said he will be looking for a deal that would help replace the loss of revenues for the home team.

"If you're going to give up a preseason game, somebody's got to make you whole," he said. "You just don't come here to play the game."

Steeg said the amount of money a team makes for a home preseason game "varies from team to team." He declined to provide an estimate.

"We're just floating ideas to see what we can do ... see if it's worth it or if it can be accomplished," Steeg said.