Tuli Tuipulotu

Tackles	150
Sacks	26
Forced fumbles	5
Fumble recoveries	2
Pass deflections	7
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tuli Tuipulotu
	Tuipulotu in 2025
No. 45 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position	Outside linebacker
Roster status	Active
Personal information
Born	September 3, 2002 (age 24); Hawthorne, California, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	266 lb (121 kg)
Career information
High school	Lawndale (Lawndale, California)
College	USC (2020–2022)
NFL draft	2023: 2nd round, 54th overall pick
Career history
	Los Angeles Chargers (2023–present);
Awards and highlights
	Pro Bowl (2025); PFWA All-Rookie Team (2023); Morris Trophy (2022); Unanimous All-American (2022); Polynesian College Football Player of the Year (2022); 2× first-team All-Pac-12 (2021, 2022);
Career NFL statistics as of Week 2, 2026
Tackles
Tackles	150
Sacks	26
Forced fumbles	5
Fumble recoveries	2
Pass deflections	7
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tuli Tuipulotu (too-EE-poo-LOE-too; born September 3, 2002) is an American professional football outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, where he was named the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American in 2022. Tuipulotu was selected by the Chargers in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life

Tuipulotu grew up in Hawthorne, California and attended Lawndale High School. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to playing college football at USC over offers from California, Utah, Washington, and Stanford.^[1]^[2]

College career

As a freshman, Tuipulotu played in all six games with three starts in USC's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and had 22 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss of and two sacks.^[3]^[4] He was named first-team All-Pac-12 Conference after recording 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and a team 5.5 sacks.^[5]^[6] Tuipulotu was named a team captain entering his junior season. He finished the season with an FBS-leading 13.5 sacks, and was named a finalist for the Bednarik, Nagurski, and Hendricks awards.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	Wingspan
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	266 lb (121 kg)	32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m)	10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m)	6 ft 5+7⁄8 in (1.98 m)
All values from NFL Combine^[7]^[8]

Tuipulotu was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.^[9] He was named to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team.^[10] In the 2025 season, he was named to his first Pro Bowl.^[11]

Career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

NFL

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD	FF	Fum	FR	Yds	TD
2023	LAC	17	11	53	37	16	4.5	8	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	2	0	1	0	0
2024	LAC	17	9	42	26	16	8.5	11	0	0	0.0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0
2025	LAC	16	16	49	35	14	13.0	20	0	0	0.0	0	0	3	2	0	1	11	0
2026	LAC	2	2	6	3	3	0.0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Career		52	38	150	101	49	26.0	39	0	0	0.0	0	0	7	5	0	2	11	0

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD	FF	Fum	FR	Yds	TD
2024	LAC	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2025	LAC	1	1	2	2	0	1.0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		2	1	2	2	0	1.0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

College

Legend
	Led the NCAA

Year	Team	GP	Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2020	USC	6	22	12	10	2.0	2.5	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
2021	USC	12	48	24	24	5.5	7.5	0	0	—	0	2	2	1	0	1
2022	USC	14	46	31	15	13.5	22.0	0	0	—	0	3	2	0	0	0
Career		32	116	67	49	21.0	32.0	0	0	—	0	5	4	1	0	1

Personal life

Tuipulotu's older brother, Marlon Tuipulotu, also played defensive tackle at USC and currently plays in the National Football League for the New York Giants.^[12] He is also a cousin of former USC and current Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga.^[13]

He is of Tongan descent.^[14]

References

↑ Grosbard, Adam (December 18, 2019). "Lawndale defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu signs with USC". The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
↑ Young, Ryan (December 20, 2019). "Scouting Report: A closer look at USC DE signee Tuli Tuipulotu". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
↑ Trevino, Chris (July 5, 2022). "USC's Tuli Tuipulotu among Pro Football Focus' top DTs for the 2023 NFL Draft". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
↑ Kartje, Ryan (April 8, 2021). "USC is looking for hunters on their revamped defensive line". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
↑ Stephenson, Duncan (August 12, 2022). "Tuli Tuipulotu is working hard to develop under Shaun Nua". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
↑ Wadleigh, Matt (December 8, 2021). "Tuli Tuipulotu earns First-Team All-Pac-12 selection". Trojans Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
↑ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Tuli Tuipulotu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Tuli Tuipulotu College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
↑ Smith, Eric (April 28, 2023). "Chargers Draft Tuli Tuipulotu with 54th Overall Pick". Chargers.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
↑ "2023 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
↑ "2026 NFL Pro Bowl AFC, NFC rosters: The league's top players". ESPN.com. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
↑ Kartje, Ryan (January 1, 2021). "USC defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu declares for NFL draft". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
↑ Greenspan, Dan (December 15, 2020). "Family ties lead USC's defense into Pac-12 title game". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
↑ Huffman, Brandon (December 13, 2022). "USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu named 2022 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year". 247Sports. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

External links

Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · CBS Sports · Yahoo Sports · Pro Football Reference
Tuli Tuipulotu on X
Los Angeles Chargers bio
USC Trojans bio

[1] Grosbard, Adam (December 18, 2019). "Lawndale defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu signs with USC". The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 28, 2022.

[2] Young, Ryan (December 20, 2019). "Scouting Report: A closer look at USC DE signee Tuli Tuipulotu". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.

[3] Trevino, Chris (July 5, 2022). "USC's Tuli Tuipulotu among Pro Football Focus' top DTs for the 2023 NFL Draft". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.

[4] Kartje, Ryan (April 8, 2021). "USC is looking for hunters on their revamped defensive line". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2022.

[5] Stephenson, Duncan (August 12, 2022). "Tuli Tuipulotu is working hard to develop under Shaun Nua". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.

[6] Wadleigh, Matt (December 8, 2021). "Tuli Tuipulotu earns First-Team All-Pac-12 selection". Trojans Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 28, 2022.

[7] Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Tuli Tuipulotu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.

[8] "2023 NFL Draft Scout Tuli Tuipulotu College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.

[9] Smith, Eric (April 28, 2023). "Chargers Draft Tuli Tuipulotu with 54th Overall Pick". Chargers.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.

[10] "2023 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.

[11] "2026 NFL Pro Bowl AFC, NFC rosters: The league's top players". ESPN.com. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

[12] Kartje, Ryan (January 1, 2021). "USC defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu declares for NFL draft". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2022.

[13] Greenspan, Dan (December 15, 2020). "Family ties lead USC's defense into Pac-12 title game". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved September 28, 2022.

[t431-14] Huffman, Brandon (December 13, 2022). "USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu named 2022 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year". 247Sports. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

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v t e Los Angeles Chargers roster
Active	0 Daiyan Henley 1 Quentin Johnston 2 Elijah Molden 3 Derwin James 5 Trey Lance 7 DJ Uiagalelei 8 Omarion Hampton 9 Tre Harris 10 Justin Herbert 11 Cameron Dicker 12 Derius Davis 13 Marquez Valdes-Scantling 15 Ladd McConkey 16 J. K. Scott 20 Cam Hart 22 Genesis Smith 23 Tony Jefferson 24 Rodney Shelley 26 Donte Jackson 27 R. J. Mickens 28 Kimani Vidal 29 Tarheeb Still 30 Alec Ingold 32 Kendall Williamson 33 Deane Leonard 34 Keaton Mitchell 40 Hayden Rucci 43 Troy Dye 45 Tuli Tuipulotu 47 Josh Harris 48 Bud Dupree 52 Khalil Mack 53 Del'Shawn Phillips 58 Marlowe Wax 60 Jacob Spomer 65 Logan Taylor 66 Jake Slaughter 69 Cole Strange 70 Rashawn Slater 73 Alex Harkey 74 Kayode Awosika 75 Trevor Penning 76 Joe Alt 77 Travis Burke 86 Oronde Gadsden II 88 Charlie Kolar 89 Brenen Thompson 90 Akheem Mesidor 91 Nick Barrett 92 Justin Eboigbe 93 Teair Tart 94 Dalvin Tomlinson 99 Jamaree Caldwell
Practice squad	25 Junior Colson 29 Kaiir Elam 31 Gregory Desrosiers 35 Amar Johnson 37 Isas Waxter 49 Evan Svoboda 50 Caleb Murphy 51 Andre Carter II 57 Lander Barton 64 Terry Webb 68 Josh Kaltenberger 78 Laekin Vakalahi (IPP) 81 Patrick Herbert 82 Theo Wease Jr. 87 Gary Jennings Jr. 95 Jordan Jefferson
Reserve	6 Denzel Perryman (IR) 44 Scott Matlock (IR) 63 Tyler Biadasz (IR) 67 Isaiah World (IR) 71 Branson Taylor (IR) 79 Trey Pipkins (IR) 84 KeAndre Lambert-Smith (IR) 83 David Njoku (IR)