The Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday announced they signed defensive lineman Teair Tart.
Here are five things to know about Tart:
1. Plenty of experience
The Chargers added some more experience with the signing of Tart.
An undrafted free agent in 2020, the 27-year-old has played in 47 games (36 starts) entering his fifth season in the league.
Tart began his career on the Titans practice squad before moving up to the active roster halfway through his rookie season.
He would stay in Tennessee until 2023, where he would play two games for the Texans late in the regular season.
2. By the numbers
Tart has spent most of his time in the league at both defensive tackle and nose tackle.
In his 47 career games, he's accumulated 79 total tackles (49 solo), 16 tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits in addition to one interception.
And while his career sack number stands at 2.5, he has been able to turn up the heat in the backfield at times with 43 career pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
3. Career year in 2022
Tart's best season arguably came in 2022, where he was a force in both the run and the pass.
Tart played in 16 games and put up a career-high for tackles in a season (34), quarterback hits (seven), sacks (1.5) and notched his lone career interception. He also racked up six passes defensed.
According to PFF, he also had the highest number of stops in his career (19 of them run stops) and pressures (26) that season.
4. Reunion in the trenches
Tart joins a defensive line that includes a familiar face for him.
He is reunited with Chargers outside linebacker Bud Dupree, with whom he spent two seasons with in 2021 and 2022.
The pair were an instrumental part of a Tennessee defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards per game in the NFL (83.5).
5. Making an impact at FIU
After playing along both the offensive and defensive lines at West Philadelphia High School, Tart first attended ASA College in New York in 2016 before enrolling at Ellsworth Community College in 2017.
He was able to make himself into a four-star junior college recruit and transfer to Florida International University, where he became a mainstay for two seasons.
Tart broke out in 2019 when he led the team with 12 tackles for loss and notched 32 total tackles on the year. He finished his career with the Panthers with 19 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
