The Los Angeles Chargers' 2025 season was a tale of two trenches-one that crumbled and one that came alive. While the offensive line unraveled under the weight of injuries and inconsistency, the defensive front found new life, thanks in large part to the emergence of a dynamic pass-rushing duo: Odafe Oweh and Tuli Tuipulotu.
Let’s start with the offensive line, because, well, everything kind of started-and ended-there. The unit was riddled with injuries all year long, and the ripple effect was brutal.
Najee Harris and rookie Omarion Hampton both missed time, and while their injuries can’t be pinned entirely on the line, the lack of protection certainly didn’t help. But the real turning point came when Justin Herbert broke his hand-a direct result of the constant pressure he faced behind a line that simply couldn’t hold up.
Once Herbert went down, the offense never truly recovered.
And that’s a shame, because the Chargers had skill-position talent that deserved better. Quentin Johnston continued to develop, Keenan Allen did what Keenan Allen always does, and rookies like Ladd McConkey and Oronde Gadsden II showed real flashes.
Even Kimani Vidal emerged as a spark plug in the backfield. But despite all that, the Chargers finished just 20th in points scored-a number that reflects how hard it is to move the ball when your quarterback is under siege and the run game can’t get going.
It’s a reminder of why coaches like Bill Belichick and Andy Reid build from the inside out. When the offensive line breaks down, the whole system starts to collapse.
But while one side of the trenches struggled, the other side gave Chargers fans something to get excited about.
Enter Odafe Oweh.
Midway through the season, the Chargers made a savvy move, trading for Oweh after Week 5. At the time, Khalil Mack was sidelined with an injury, and LA needed someone who could bring heat off the edge. Oweh, who had been used more as a pass-rush specialist in Baltimore, found a new gear once he landed in Los Angeles.
Over 12 regular season games with the Chargers, Oweh racked up 7.5 sacks. Then came the playoffs, where he truly made his mark-sacking rookie quarterback Drake Maye three times in a single game (a franchise postseason record) and forcing two fumbles. That kind of performance doesn’t just turn heads-it changes the way opponents game-plan.
At 27, Oweh is entering his prime, and if the Chargers can lock him up in free agency, they’ll have the kind of edge presence that keeps offensive coordinators up at night.
But Oweh’s not doing it alone.
Tuli Tuipulotu, the former USC standout and 2023 second-round pick, took a massive leap in his third season. After posting 4.5 sacks as a rookie and 8.5 in his sophomore campaign, Tuipulotu exploded for 13 sacks in 2025. That’s the kind of year that starts to put a young pass rusher in the conversation with the league’s elite.
What makes Tuipulotu’s rise even more impressive is how consistent he’s become. He’s not just feasting on weak matchups-he’s winning with technique, motor, and a growing understanding of how to set up offensive tackles over the course of a game. He’s becoming a problem, and with Oweh on the opposite side, the Chargers suddenly have one of the most dangerous young pass-rushing tandems in the league.
That’s why there’s not a whole lot of panic in the building about the possibility of Khalil Mack moving on. Sure, Mack brought leadership and a veteran presence, but the future of the Chargers’ pass rush is already here-and it’s fast, physical, and relentless.
If LA can shore up the offensive line this offseason and bring Oweh back into the fold, they’ll be in a much stronger position heading into 2026. Because as tough as this past season was on one side of the ball, the other side showed flashes of something special. And in this league, if you can get after the quarterback, you’ve always got a shot.