Khalil Mack proud of Tuli Tuipulotu’s development on the field and in the locker room
Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack are practically inseparable in the Chargers’ locker room.
On the field, they’re on opposite ends of the pass rush. Tuipulotu has tallied double-digit sacks (10) for the first time in his career as Mack, a nine-time Pro Bowler, has recorded 4½ sacks after missing four games because of injury.
Off the field, the duo are on the same locker-room cornhole team. Victories there, often against offensive linemen Austin Deculus and Jamaree Salyer, are celebrated like booming sacks.
Mack can’t help but smile when Tuipulotu’s name is brought up, a proud veteran watching a third-year Charger grow before him.
“I always say the sky’s the limit for Tuli,” Mack said. “I’m not expecting him to just stop at 10 (sacks).”
Mack has made it clear he expects greatness from Tuipulotu, he said.
Tuipulotu, a former unanimous All-American at USC in 2022, is grateful for Mack’s tutelage and guidance. Each season Tuipulotu has increased his sack totals. In 2023, he had 4½ sacks. A year ago, he had 8½. Already ahead of that mark with five games left, Tuipulotu hopes to add to his sacks tally Monday night against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It means a lot,” Tuipulotu said of Mack’s mentorship. “He’s been there for me ever since I got in the league. That’s somebody I want to model my game after, trying to be as great as him.”
But where Mack and the Chargers coaching staff are seeing Tuipulotu grow the most is in his vocal leadership, despite being one of the younger players on the roster at 23.
“When he came into the league, he was a 20-year-old, but he was — I used to say he was 19, but he was 20,” Mack said. “His mind was churning, but the words weren’t coming out yet. The words are coming out with it now.”