John Wiedmeier and Christina DeRuyter prefer to stay out of the limelight, even if they hold two of the most important roles within the Chargers organization.
Wiedmeier and DeRuyter took home the AFC Travel Directors of the Year accolade earlier this week in Florida, marking a historic and well-deserved win for the Bolts.
The 2024 season was the first that Wiedmeier and DeRuyter had worked together.
"It's a culmination of what we did this year," said Wiedmeier, the Chargers Director of Football Operations. "We had a brand-new coach, a brand-new GM.
"There was a lot of trust put into us because it was not only my first year taking on the full travel piece, but Christina had just joined our team," Wiedmeier added. "It was just really cool that in our first year working together that we were recognized the way that we were."
DeRuyter, the Chargers Director of Football Logistics, added: "I'm honored that they nominated us and that we won. But I'm just so lucky to work with John. We're such a great duo with Coach [Harbaugh] and Joe [Hortiz] trusting us to take the reins."
Get an inside look at travel day as the Bolts hit the road from Los Angeles for their Week 17 matchup in New England!
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for their Week 17 matchup with the Patriots.
Truth be told, the tandem was ecstatic to take home the award. But 2024 marked the first time the Chargers had even been nominated for the award.
Hotels and various travel partners nominate staff from teams and then vote on a winner in each conference.
"I wasn't surprised because I know the quality of the work we've done. It was just a surprise when it's all the people that I look up to are getting nominated," Wiedmeier said.
"There were a lot of really, really good teams that were up for it this year," Wiedmeier added about a group that included the Dolphins, Raiders and Broncos. "I was just fortunate that we came home with it."
While the Bolts enjoyed a successful first season under Harbaugh by getting 11 wins and making the playoffs, Wiedmeier and DeRuyter made sure everything ran smooth behind the scenes.
That included a 10-day September road trip that began with eight days in Charlotte followed by two days in Pittsburgh.
But Wiedmeier and DeRuyter were quick to deflect credit for the unique trip, instead noting how other departments such as equipment, athletic training, nutrition and video staffs all played an integral role in making the lengthy stay a successful one. The duo also credited UNC Charlotte for their generosity and hospitality.
"It was definitely a cohesive goal," DeRuyter said. "We're so lucky with Coach Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz's leadership that we are all on the same page all the time. Everyone was just dialed in."
Wiedmeier added: "This was everybody coming together."
Wiedmeier has been with the Chargers since 2017 while DeRuyter joined the team almost a year ago after previously being on Michigan's staff with Harbaugh.
And while the two may appear to have a thankless job, they each said they feel the love and appreciation from across the Chargers organization on a daily basis.
"We are very behind the scenes. But we know our staff and players are so grateful," DeRuyter said. "We had players message us to congratulate us. It was players, their wives, coaches, staff, different departments … that really caught me off guard.
"But we don't take that lightly," DeRuyter added. "We try our best to make sure everyone has a comfortable stay so they can focus on their job and winning."
Wiedmeier concurred with his teammate's sentiment.
"We're in a really unique position of how we are measured operations wise," Wiedmeier said. "First off, everything is measured through wins.
"But one of the best measures of how we did our job is if no one really notices that we've done anything," Wiedmeier added. "If you can do all of that without thinking about the operations piece, that means we did a really good job."
With an award under their belt, don't expect Wiedmeier and DeRuyter to rest on their laurels anytime soon.
They already have their eyes on the 2025 season, which of course includes a Week 1 game in São Paulo, Brazil.
"We can't wait for Year 2," DeRuyter said. "We were already talking about what we need to do to get a repeat. We're always constantly striving to get better.
"We already know what a season looks like under Coach Harbaugh and what Joe likes and what ownership likes," DeRuyter added. "We think next year is going to be even better."
