EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Teair Tart's difference-making fourth quarter almost did not happen.
The Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman was flagged for unnecessary roughness about midway through the third quarter of the team's season-opening win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. The Chiefs converted a third-and-1 deep inside Chargers territory on a rush up the middle from running back Kareem Hunt. Tart and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce were engaged as the play ended, and Hunt dove ahead for a first down. Kelce gave Tart an extra shove after the play. Tart retaliated with a sudden right-handed swipe to Kelce's head. Flags flew.
The Chargers were penalized 15 yards for Tart's extracurriculars. But Tart was not ejected from the game. According to the NFL rulebook, an official can disqualify a player for "throwing a punch" if the act is judged "to be flagrant." Rules analyst and former NFL official Terry McAuley said on the broadcast that Tart's action was deemed "an open-hand contact to the head" and therefore "was not a disqualifying action."
"The rules are the rules," Tart said in the Chargers locker room Wednesday.
Monday in Kansas City, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked about the play. "I don't understand that rule," he told reporters.
The Chiefs would have been far better off if Tart had been ejected. Tart had an undeniable impact down the stretch of the game, batting down three pass attempts from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the fourth quarter. One of those batted passes came on a two-point conversion attempt with just more than 12 minutes remaining. Kelce had just scored on an explosive 37-yard touchdown. The crowd in São Paulo was as loud as it had been all night. Tart's play quieted the raucous environment and, more importantly, maintained a 2-point Chargers lead.
"In the red zone, PBUs sometimes can be just as good as sacks," Tart said. "They are big-time, game-changing, momentum plays."
Tart's first batted pass came on the first play of the fourth quarter. He was rushing one-on-one against Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith. Tart powered through Smith's outside shoulder and drove into the backfield. As Mahomes released a pass, Tart raised his left hand and deflected the ball to the ground. The throw was intended for Kelce, who was coming wide open over the middle on an in-breaking route.
"He was disruptive," coach Jim Harbaugh said of Tart.
Tart's second batted pass came on the two-point conversion later in this drive. He batted his third pass of the game in the red zone on the next drive. Mahomes had just kept the Chiefs alive with a miraculous 49-yard completion to Hollywood Brown on a fourth-and-7. Again, the crowd rose in volume. Again, Tart silenced the Brazilian fans.
On a first-and-goal from the Chargers' 9-yard line, Mahomes dropped back and tried to hit Brown on a quick-game route to the right side. Tart was again matched up one-on-one with Smith. This time, Tart slowed his rush and watched Mahomes' eyes. As Mahomes released, Tart got that same left hand up and batted the pass away. He stared down the Chiefs sideline after the play.
The Chiefs kicked a field goal two plays later. Tart's three batted passes tied for the most by a defensive lineman in a game since J.J. Watt had four in 2020, according to TruMedia.
"You just kind of react during the play," Tart said. "You try to find a way to affect the quarterback in any way, (whether) it's just beating the man out the gate in front of you or getting your hand in the way of those throwing lanes."
Tart's playmaking was essential because of the way Mahomes played in the game. The Chiefs were leaning heavily into their quick-game concepts, and Mahomes was getting the ball out of his hands to neutralize the Chargers' pass rush. Mahomes had an average time to throw of 2.31 seconds in the game, according to TruMedia. It was the eighth-fastest time to throw for Mahomes in 131 career starts.
"I was just trying to find a way to affect the game," Tart said. "That's a credit to the whole defense. Obviously, they came out with a game plan, and it's our job to try to disrupt that game plan."
Tart was also very stout as a run defender, both in one-on-one situations and when taking on the Chiefs' double-teams.
Kansas City finished with just 41 rushing yards on 11 designed runs.
"He was very physical," Harbaugh said of Tart. "He was able to get off blocks and help create the run wall, which has been a big emphasis for us."
The Chargers first signed Tart in August of last year. Tart had just been cut by the Miami Dolphins midway through training camp. The Chargers were his fourth team in eight months.
Tart then carved out a role on coordinator Jesse Minter's defense in 2024. He had 18 pressures as a rotational player.
"It meant the world to me, coming from a bunch of different places," Tart said of the Chargers' signing him. "I think things are earned and not given to you. I appreciate them for the opportunity and giving me the chance to earn and prove that I belong here and I can play here."
The Chargers then lost two starters on the defensive line in free agency in Poona Ford and Morgan Fox. They re-signed Tart to a one-year, $4.5 million extension in March.
Tart had an opportunity coming into 2025 to graduate to a starting role and be the primary producer in a deep interior defensive line group.
In the season opener against the Chiefs, Tart started and played 42.3 percent of the defensive snaps. It was his highest snap percentage in a game since Dec. 11, 2023, when he was with the Tennessee Titans.
He rewarded the Chargers with three splash plays, even as the Chiefs were trying to scheme the defensive front out of the game.
"They believe in me, they trust in me, and I just want to keep proving them right," Tart said of the Chargers coaching staff and front office. "There's no other place I'd rather be than right here."
As for the ejection that almost was?
"Just being passionate in the moment," Tart said. "It's nothing but fun, competitive spirit."