Chargers' 2025 Pro Bowl Defender Has Been a True Bargain from Day One

Third-year pass rusher Tuli Tuipulotu has emerged as one of the NFL's top sack artists on a team-friendly rookie deal.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:05pm

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Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, a 2023 second-round pick out of USC, has blossomed into a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher in just three NFL seasons. After recording 13 sacks in 2025, Tuipulotu is set to receive a significant pay raise, but his rookie contract will have cost the Chargers just $11.4 million total.

Why it matters

Tuipulotu's rapid development into an elite edge defender on a team-friendly rookie deal has been a major boon for the Chargers, allowing them to allocate resources elsewhere on the roster. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, the Chargers will likely look to lock up the 23-year-old with a lucrative long-term extension.

The details

After playing in all 17 games and making 11 starts as a rookie in 2023, Tuipulotu has steadily improved, recording 8.5 sacks in 2024 and a career-high 13 sacks in 2025, which ranked sixth in the NFL. He also led the Chargers in quarterback hits (23) and forced fumbles (2) last season. Tuipulotu's emergence has paired nicely with veteran Khalil Mack, giving the Chargers a formidable pass-rushing duo.

  • Tuipulotu was a 2023 second-round pick out of USC.
  • In 2023, Tuipulotu played in all 17 games, making 11 starts, and finished with 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
  • In 2024, Tuipulotu again appeared in all 17 games, recording 38 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 4 special teams tackles.
  • In 2025, Tuipulotu started the first 16 games, recording 45 tackles, 13 sacks (6th in the NFL), 23 QB hits, 3 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
  • Tuipulotu's rookie contract will have cost the Chargers just $11.4 million total, but he is set to receive a significant pay raise in 2026.

The players

Tuli Tuipulotu

A 23-year-old outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers, who was a 2023 second-round draft pick out of USC. He has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2025 after recording 13 sacks.

Khalil Mack

A veteran outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers, who has paired with the younger Tuli Tuipulotu to form a formidable pass-rushing duo. In 2025, Mack and Tuipulotu combined for 18.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles.

Joe Hortiz

The general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers, who will likely look to sign Tuli Tuipulotu to a lucrative long-term extension before he enters the final year of his rookie contract in 2026.

Chris O'Leary

The new defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, who will inherit a unit that has steadily improved over the past few seasons and now features a pair of elite pass rushers in Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack.

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What they’re saying

“Another fourth-year guy who has steadily improved throughout his rookie deal, the 23-year-old earned his first Pro Bowl nod with 13 sacks in 2025. Tuipulotu will receive a big raise from $1.8 million in '25 to $6.2 million in '26, but his rookie contract will have cost the team just $11.4 million total.”

— Brad Gagnon, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The Chargers will likely look to sign Tuli Tuipulotu to a long-term contract extension before he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, in order to lock up one of the NFL's emerging young pass rushers.

The takeaway

Tuli Tuipulotu's rapid development into an elite pass rusher on a team-friendly rookie contract has been a major boon for the Chargers, allowing them to allocate resources elsewhere on the roster. As he enters the prime of his career, the Chargers will need to prioritize signing Tuipulotu to a lucrative extension to keep him in Los Angeles for the long term.