Tuipulotu’s big strides in Year 3 have manifested themselves in other things beyond the field as well.

Coming into the NFL as a 20-year-old he admittedly took a quieter approach, learning the ropes, listening to the veterans in front of him, keeping his head down and putting in the work.

Now, he’s one of the veterans.

He’s become one of the most respected voices in the Chargers locker room as well, developing himself as one of the leaders of the unit and speaking up in ways he didn’t before.

“He is really coming to his own in that regard,” Minter said.

Tuipulotu is one of the more low-key personalities on the team, but when the time comes and he’s needed, he makes his voice heard.

Even though that’s not the type of person he is on a day-to-day basis for the most part, it’s a whole different case when it comes to the game of football.

“I’m a quiet dude, but sometimes passion overrides being quiet,” Tuipulotu said. “Sometimes it just comes out.”

He later added: “I love this team, I love playing football and I love winning. That all comes from that, from the passion. The passion of the game, it comes out. You can’t control that.”

It’s been a process since he arrived, but it’s a natural one most young players who become leaders go through.

Someone who knew he would get to this point eventually? Khalil Mack, of course, as the future Hall of Famer has praised Tuipulotu since the moment he first interacted with him.

Mack said Tuipulotu has always shown that he was going to be one of those leaders with time, and he has more than earned the right to do so now.

And it’s showing in this breakout season.

“He came into the league mature,” Mack said. “He was a 20-year-old, I used to say 19. But he was 20, early 20s. He was mature and handled his business at a high level. You can always see his thought process.

“His mind was churning, but the words weren’t coming out yet,” Mack added. “The words are coming out now. It’s always been there, he’s always been a leader… Now he’s stepping into that role himself just understanding, ‘No man, you earned your right to speak up and be the voice when we need it.'”