After a breakout sophomore season, Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu is turning heads—and earning accolades. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder recently dubbed Tuipulotu the team’s “secret weapon,” noting that his emergence helped make Joey Bosa a cap casualty this offseason.
“Joey Bosa was a salary cap casualty this offseason, and the Chargers likely felt comfortable letting Bosa go because of Tuipulotu’s play over the last two years,” Holder wrote. “The USC product has racked up 13 sacks during his tenure in the NFL, including 8.5 last season.”
Tuli Tuipulotu Named Los Angeles Chargers’ Secret Weapon Amid Breakout Campaign
Indeed, Tuipulotu’s 2024 campaign was a revelation. The second-year pass rusher led the team with 8.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits while stepping into a larger role due to injuries to veterans Khalil Mack and Bosa. His four-game stretch from Weeks 8 to 11 was especially explosive: seven sacks and 10 QB hits, including a run of three consecutive multi-sack games—a feat achieved by just four Chargers since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
“We don’t come out looking for sacks,” Tuipulotu said during that streak. “We just come out trying to play hard, make plays and have fun.”
The outside linebacker group was one of the most experienced on the team, and the addition of veteran Bud Dupree added stability throughout the season. Dupree appeared in all 17 games, logging six sacks and the only interception by a Bolts OLB.
Mack remained a force at 33, finishing with six sacks, a team-high 54 QB pressures, and elite run-defense grades per Pro Football Focus. Bosa, despite battling injuries, still contributed five sacks and two forced fumbles.
Yet it’s Tuipulotu’s rise that has redefined the group’s future—and positioned him as a foundational piece in Los Angeles’ next defensive era.
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