About 150 fourth to sixth graders squeezed into seven lunch tables Tuesday morning, shrieking the sort of high-pitched scream usually reserved for a teenage boy band. Their 6-foot-6 visitor made his rounds, fist bumping the students at Audubon K-8 School. Finally, he stopped to hug one. It was a green light for dozens more to rush him with open arms.

Chris Hairston was surrounded.

“You really never know what to expect with kids,” Hairston said. “I didn’t expect that. … That was special.”


The Chargers offensive tackle made his latest stop in what he calls a “farewell tour” to San Diego. Since the franchise’s Jan. 12 relocation to Los Angeles, he has sought different opportunities to express his appreciation for the club’s 56 seasons in town. On Tuesday, he played outdoor games with kids.

This is not a team-mandated PR campaign, he says.

The Chargers are not supervising, directing or at all affiliated with his community outreach. It’s merely something he wants to do.

“This is our roots,” Hairston said. “San Diego, the history here, is pretty profound. … I just felt it was a way to reach out before we leave as a farewell. That’s what it is. But I wanted it to be something heartfelt, something meaningful to kids and fans alike. … I don’t know any other way to say ‘thank you’ but to engage and just try to have a good time.”


Tuesday’s appearance was at least the fourth Hairston, 27, has made in San Diego.

On Jan. 12, fans littered the Chargers Park parking lot with jerseys, hats and other unwanted team memorabilia, turning in their fan card following the move. Only one player, Hairston, walked out of the team facility to speak with those fans, offering gratitude for their support.

A week later, he donated 100 pairs of shoes to Perkins K-8 School. Afterward, having heard there was a Chargers “super fan” nearby, he patrolled the Logan Heights neighborhood and found Arturo Ruiz’ customized, yellow 1966 Chevrolet truck, which features a blue trim and team logos.

Ruiz, who said that he has a houseful of Chargers memorabilia, was at work when Hairston arrived. He quickly drove over.


“One of my daughters called and told me there was a football player at our house, ” Ruiz said. “I was like, ‘What? A football player?’ … He just wanted to meet me. That was the first time one of the players wanted to come to my house and talk to me. I was bummed out and hurt about what happened to the team, but when he came over, it pumped me up a little bit.”

On Tuesday, it was all games.

Students were split into six stations, each supervised by a representative from Playworks, a non-profit dedicated to safe, inclusive play in inner-city schools. Hairston played with them. School principal Tim Suanico called the session “the first time in a long time that I’ve seen these kids be kids.”

Hairston next plans to host a lunch or dinner for Chargers fans in the coming weeks. A location and date have yet to be finalized; he solicits feedback and plans events via his Twitter account. Each event communicates a simple thought.


Thank you.

For everything, thank you.

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michael.gehlken@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @SDUTgehlken