Derwin James, Jr., has been a catalyst of everything the Chargers have wanted to do since he arrived in the NFL.
It's no secret the All-Pro safety has been one of the mainstays of the defense — and the team overall — with his demeanor and approach both on and off the field.
But now in his eighth season in the league, James finds himself continuing to want to uphold the standard and culture the team has been shifting towards over the past two years under Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh.
"To let them know, you make a play for one week, or we can have a stretch where we have five perfect games, no matter a win or loss, keep it to the same standard and same routine," James told Chargers.com. "Same formula to get better every week no matter what."
A team captain once again this season, his message is well received in the locker room — like it has been since he entered the league and became one of the top leaders on the Bolts.
"When he breaks down the team, three words, 'Be the best.' That's the standard," Harbaugh said earlier in the season. "He is the one that is constantly holding himself and everybody to that standard.
"He's pretty cool because I want to do it because that's the standard he set," Harbaugh added. "We're all striving for that."
On the field, James continues to do what he does best.
A Second-Team All-Pro selection at slot cornerback in 2024, he's has done the same in Year 2 of Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter’s scheme, logging 236 snaps in the slot, 203 in the box and 89 along the defensive line.
"You just take a guy that's like, 'How can you get him as close to the point of attack as many times in the game as possible,'" Minter said before the season. "I think that's the vision."
That vision has manifested itself this year for the Bolts defense.
James is second on the Chargers in total tackles (65), tackles for loss (five) to go along with 1.5 sacks, an interception and four passes defensed.
He also was tied for second with 10 pressures and tied for third with 28 total stops, plays that go down as failures for the offense, among all defensive backs heading into the bye week, according to Pro Football Focus.
James has not allowed a touchdown in coverage and among all safeties with at least 400 snaps entering Week 12, he ranks seventh in quarterback rating allowed when targeted (68.0).
If last year was any indication of how much of a disruptor he could be, this year he has been just as valuable for the unit.
"A year and a half in the system, I feel good," James said. "I'm confident in the coaches, in the players that we have.
"As a leader, I'm trying to continue to make the plays that come to me and help other guys communicate and make plays," James added.
But perhaps his biggest work has been done in the crucial moments of the season so far as a leader — and what he's been able to do in his role of establishing the culture that Chargers have now built over the last couple of seasons.
This season James has been as open as ever about what he hopes the team will do to bounce back, including being very transparent with one another.
Through the ups and downs of a regular season so far, James can constantly be heard referencing the mantra of 'Tell the truth.'
Whether it's after a tough loss or a stretch where they weren't playing up to the expectations they have for themselves, James continuously emphasized how important it was to be honest.
It's a very direct message that is sometimes hard to get through, but not with the type of culture and players he explained they have in the building.
"I feel like we're creating an unsoft-skin culture," James said. "What I mean by that is when someone says, 'Hey, you have soft skin.' If you get offended by anything or somebody tries to coach you or, 'You take everything to heart,'
"I feel like with this team, the coaches and players, there's nobody here that has soft skin," James added. "Everybody is always able to take the coaching and help everybody to get right."
It's something that is not an easy topic, but an important one for a team in a long season.
Just ask future Hall of Famer, and another one of the Chargers defensive leaders, Khalil Mack, who has seen what it could do and had heavy praise for what the safety brings.
There's a fine line with how to get that point across, but Mack knows James is the perfect guy to balance with it and do so.
"It's super important when you speak on the honesty level on everything like how you want to play football, if you're being too soft, if you're not communicating enough," Mack told Chargers.com. "You got to have people that are old enough to communicate that with everybody, coaches included. I feel like he's one of those guys.
"He'll go upstairs, talk to the coaches and let them know what it is. Then come downstairs and talk to us and let it know what it is. Keeping it real," Mack continued. "It's super important when you got a guy like that.
Mack added: "The energy, he keeps everything kind of glued together."
Both veterans and newcomers alike realize quickly how much value James brings to the group both on and off the field.
It shows up in all facets throughout the season, and his energy is a game-changer for the team.
"He epitomizes the standard of our defense," rookie safety RJ Mickens said. "The way he plays, the way he works, the way he practices, the way he leads, his whole energy, everything about him is really what our defense is about.
"He's a great leader on our defense. Just seeing the way he works, he works hard every day," Mickens added. "He's not complacent and high energy guy that is selfless and cares about his teammates. He works just as hard, if not harder, than anybody on this team."
Donte Jackson added before the season: "You want to know something, how to do something, you look at No. 3. He's literally the standard. He's literally Charger football."
Even a future Hall of Famer with the decorated career of Mack knows players like No. 3 are rare.
"It's super important to have a guy like Derwin in the building," Mack said. "Just being around this league the last 11, 12 years, I've never been around a guy like that. He's a super energetic guy but then he goes out there on the practice field, game field, and he puts it on tape.
"It's unique when you got a player like him in the building," Mack added. "It's one of those things where you don't come around guys like that often."
Now in the homestretch of the season coming off a bye week, the Chargers are leaning on the culture they have built in the locker room.
"I feel like it's a checkpoint," James said.
The Bolts were on a high note during the three-game winning streak before a tough road loss ahead of the bye week moved the team to 7-4 heading into the final third of the regular season.
The overriding feeling in the locker room after the game was one of disappointment, as they felt like they didn't execute the way they wanted to.
However, it's times like this where they must lean back into what they have been building — and James is fired up to get to it.
"When you're on a three-game winning streak and you don't get to four, it's a little humbling," James said after the game. "Get back to work, tell the truth, look at the film.
"I can't wait to get back to work," James added.
It's what allowed them to bounce back earlier in the season, and what they will need to do with six games remaining and a competitive AFC playoff field.
In the midst of another playoff push heading into December and January, James and the team are confident they have what it takes to push through the finish line and get back into the postseason.
They've shown it before and are aiming to do it once again.
"Win, lose, draw, I love this team, I'm not pointing fingers and I'm not doubting no man in this room," James said.
"I know we got enough," James added. "We've shown what we're capable of, it's about putting it together and doing it over, and over and over again."
