After the dancing and cheering and hugging and laughing, the visiting locker room at MetLife Stadium was quiet late Monday night. The Chargers were not heading back to Los Angeles until Tuesday, and they had all departed for the bus to continue celebrating their 27-6 win over the New York Jets at the team hotel. All except for one: Tuli Tuipulotu.
The rookie edge rusher was fresh off the first multi-sack game of his career, and he was answering a question about the lessons he’s learned from teammate Joey Bosa when he stopped talking abruptly. Something was missing.
“Who took my bag?” Tuipulotu asked a nearby Chargers staffer, referring to the large duffel bag each player packs with pads, cleats, a helmet and other gear.
“We just took it,” the staffer replied. The bag was already headed to the bus. “Want me to get it back?”
“Yeah,” Tuipulotu said.
Did he need something in it? Was it a superstition to take the bag to the bus himself?
“No,” Tuipulotu said. “I’d just rather do everything myself. They do a lot of work, so I’d rather just take my own bag, put my own jersey away, put my own pants away. They do a lot, so I do my part.”
The bag returned. Another staffer plopped it down next to Tuipulotu.
“Appreciate you,” he said.
A small moment. Maybe even an inconsequential moment to those on the outside looking in. But to understand how the Chargers got to this point — two straight wins after a 2-4 start, a return to relevance and a defense surging from laughing stock to dominance — you can start here. With this sentiment. With this feeling. With this intention.
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