Chargers Sign Teair Tart to 3-Year $37.5M Extension

The Los Angeles Chargers have finalized a Teair Tart contract extension worth up to $37.5 million over the next three years. This significant deal includes $20 million in guaranteed money, ensuring the standout defensive tackle remains the anchor of the team’s interior defensive line through the 2028 season. By securing Tart before the start of free agency, General Manager Joe Hortiz has solidified a key defensive unit that ranked among the league’s best during the 2025 campaign.

The Los Angeles Chargers have moved decisively to fortify the core of their defense, agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Teair Tart on a three-year contract extension. The deal, reportedly worth up to $37.5 million with $20 million guaranteed, signals the team’s commitment to maintaining one of the league’s top defensive units. This move represents the first major domino to fall in what is expected to be a pivotal offseason for General Manager Joe Hortiz and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, following the team’s playoff appearance in 2025.

Contract Details and Market Value

The financial parameters of the extension place Tart firmly within the market’s value for a high-impact interior defender. The $20 million in guaranteed money provides security for the player, while the “up to $37.5 million” total value reflects incentive-laden potential. This structure balances reward for performance with team-friendly cap management. Within the defensive tackle landscape, this contract positions Tart just outside the top tier of earners, comparable to established veterans like D.J. Jones and Grover Stewart, representing strong value for a player coming off a career-best season.

Teair Tart’s Impact in the 2025 Season

Tart’s extension is a direct reward for his transformative role in the Chargers’ defense last season. After joining the team in 2024, he ascended to a full-time starting role in 2025, starting all 17 regular-season games and the wild-card playoff contest. His primary impact was felt as a disruptive run defender. According to advanced metrics, Tart registered 12 run stops during the regular season, a figure that ranked seventh in the entire NFL and led the Chargers’ defensive front. His ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage and blow up plays in the backfield became a hallmark of the team’s defensive identity.

His regular-season production included 32 total tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. This consistent performance earned him a 67.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, with a standout run defense grade of 73.3—the best mark of his career. Tart saved his most complete performance for the playoffs, recording a sack, two tackles for loss, and a batted pass that led to an interception in the Chargers’ wild-card game against the New England Patriots.

From Journeyman to Cornerstone: Tart’s Career Trajectory

This contract marks a significant milestone in Tart’s professional journey. An undrafted free agent in 2020, he spent time with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans before finding a lasting home with the Chargers. His path underscores a narrative of persistence and development. Prior to 2025, he had never started every game in a season. The Chargers, facing a perceived weakness on the interior defensive line after losing Poona Ford in free agency, provided him with the opportunity, and Tart capitalized fully, transforming from a rotational piece into an indispensable starter.

The Broader Context of the Chargers’ Offseason

The Tart extension cannot be viewed in isolation; it is the opening move in a complex offseason strategy. The Chargers are simultaneously navigating the departure of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who was hired as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, necessitating a critical search for his replacement. Concurrently, the team announced the hiring of former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as the new offensive coordinator, tasked with revitalizing that side of the ball.

Securing Tart now provides stability on the defensive front as the team tackles other pressing contractual matters. Key edge rushers Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh are impending unrestricted free agents, while 2025 sack leader Tuli Tuipulotu is eligible for an extension as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. Retaining Tart ensures the interior defensive line does not become another question mark amidst this potential turnover.

Strategic Implications for the Chargers’ Defense

Locking down Tart has profound strategic implications. In the defensive scheme favored by Jim Harbaugh and his coordinators, a stout, disruptive interior lineman is crucial for setting the tone. Tart’s ability to command double teams and stuff running lanes frees up linebackers to flow to the ball and creates one-on-one opportunities for edge rushers. His re-signing is a commitment to the foundational philosophy of winning at the line of scrimmage. It allows the team to approach the draft and the rest of free agency without a glaring need at defensive tackle, focusing resources on other areas like cornerback, offensive line, or pass rush depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the terms of Teair Tart’s new contract?

Teair Tart signed a three-year extension with the Los Angeles Chargers. The deal is worth up to $37.5 million and includes $20 million in guaranteed money.

How did Teair Tart perform in the 2025 season?

Tart had a career year, starting all 17 games. He was a dominant run stopper, ranking 7th in the NFL with 12 run stops. He recorded 32 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and was a consistent force on the interior.

Why is this signing important for the Chargers?

It secures a key piece of a top-tier defense, maintains continuity on the defensive line, and allows the team to focus its offseason resources on other needs, such as re-signing edge rushers and finding a new defensive coordinator.

Who is the Chargers’ defensive coordinator now?

As of this signing, the Chargers are in the process of interviewing candidates to replace Jesse Minter, who left to become head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. The position remains open.

What does this mean for other Chargers free agents?

General Manager Joe Hortiz has stated that re-signing key defenders is a priority. Tart’s deal is likely the first step, with attention now turning to outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh.

Where does Tart’s contract rank among NFL defensive tackles?

The average annual value places him just outside the top tier, around the 30th-highest paid at the position. It’s considered a team-friendly deal for a player of his impact.

Did Tart play in the Chargers’ playoff game?

Yes. In the wild-card loss to New England, Tart was highly productive, registering a sack, two tackles for loss, and a batted pass that led to an interception.

What was the Chargers’ biggest need on the defensive line before this signing?

Following the 2024 departure of Poona Ford, the interior defensive line was viewed as a potential weakness. Tart’s emergence and subsequent extension directly address that need.

Who did the Chargers hire as offensive coordinator?

The team officially hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator on the same day the Tart extension was reported.

Is Teair Tart injury-prone?

Not based on the 2025 season. He demonstrated durability by starting every single game, the first time he has done so in his career.

Final Verdict

The Los Angeles Chargers’ decision to extend Teair Tart is a textbook example of proactive and intelligent team building. It rewards a player who outperformed his previous contract and filled a vital role with exceptional play, particularly against the run. By securing Tart now, the front office stabilizes a critical position group, maintains the strength of an elite defense, and gains valuable flexibility for the remainder of a complex offseason. This move is less a splashy headline and more a strategic cornerstone, reflecting a clear vision to build a sustained contender under the Harbaugh-Hortiz regime. For Tart and the Chargers, this partnership is a win-win, anchoring the defensive front for the foreseeable future.