Tuli Tuipulotu

Tuli Tuipulotu (born September 3, 2002) is an American professional football 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.

Tuli Tuipulotu

No. 45 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(2002-09-03) September 3, 2002 (age 22) Hawthorne, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	266 lb (121 kg)
Career information
High school:	Lawndale (Lawndale, California)
College:	USC (2020–2022)
NFL draft:	2023: 2nd round, 54th pick
Career history
Los Angeles Chargers (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2023) Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year (2022) 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 2024
Total tackles: 95 Sacks: 13.0 Forced fumbles: 3 Fumble recoveries: 1 Pass deflections: 3 Stats at Pro Football Reference

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
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)
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]

Personal life

Tuipulotu's older brother, Marlon Tuipulotu, also played defensive tackle at USC and currently plays in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs.^[11] He is also a cousin of former USC and current Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga.^[12]

He is of Tongan descent.^[13]