The Chargers got an early jump on free agency Monday with the announcement that they have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Teair Tart on a multi-year contract extension,
Tart was slated to be an unrestricted free agent in March after playing the past two seasons on separate 1-year deals.
Given Tart's impact on the Bolts defense during that time span, it was an easy call for Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and the front office to bring him back.
But the fact they agreed to terms before the calendar turned to February?
That just shows how valuable Tart has been — and will continue to be — for the Bolts, especially against the run, an area the 28-year-old has excelled at since arriving in Southern California.
Tart posted a Pro Football Focus run defense grade of 70.3 in 2024, good for 13th among all interior defensive linemen with at least 160 plays against the run.
Tart saw an increased workload in 2025 and was even better in this area, posting a 74.7 PFF run defense grade, good for fifth among all linemen with at least 240 snaps.
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart. Tart has recorded 140 career tackles and 3.5 sacks. In the 2025 season, he played in 18 games.
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
![The Los Angeles Chargers play the Washington Commanders on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.
[FINAL SCORE: WAS 27 - LAC 10]](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/chargers/x8cbbqowuqwkwai3dzwp.jpg)
The Los Angeles Chargers play the Washington Commanders on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. [FINAL SCORE: WAS 27 - LAC 10]
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with defensive lineman Teair Tart
He's also chipped in against the pass, too, with 31 combined pressures over the past two seasons.
Not to mention his penchant for tipped passes, as the six Tart has recorded over the past two seasons are tied for seventh among interior linemen.
He's also been durable by playing in every regular-season and playoff game over the past two years.
Tart is an ascending player and one who seems to show up biggest when the lights are bright.
He was a monster in the Chargers recent playoff loss and loves playing in primetime games.
Remember Tart's performance in Brazil? He also adds some much-needed swag to the defense.
Hortiz and the Chargers are facing a pivotal offseason as they head into Year 3 of the Jim Harbaugh and Hortiz Era.
The Bolts have won 11 games in back-to-back seasons but are also looking for their first playoff win and a new Defensive Coordinator.
Getting Tart back into the fold was a smart decision considering his recent play, especially considering the Bolts picked him up off the street late in training camp in 2024.
The Chargers entered the offseason with nearly $100 million in cap space, but Hortiz said after the season that internal free agents would likely eat up a good chunk of that.
Tart was the first to do so, and it was a wise move to get this done early and ahead of the free agency frenzy.
