Patriots running back Kevin Faulk is upended by a host of Chargers defenders on this third-down run in the second quarter of last night’s game in San Diego.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

SAN DIEGO — Junior Seau’s life these days is all about waves and coolers.

The waves he surfs every day; the coolers he brings with him to his children’s football and volleyball games.

He says he’d only come back to play for the Patriots, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be doing that anytime soon.

Speaking with media at his popular, eponymous sports bar just a stone’s throw from Qualcomm Stadium yesterday, the legendary linebacker said if Bill Belichick called next week asking him to return to the field, his answer would depend on the waves.

“It matters on how the swell is out there on the beach. We’re going to have to check the weather on that one,” he said with a smile.

The 39-year-old San Diego native received his diamond-encrusted AFC championship ring from Patriots owner Robert Kraft yesterday, and Kraft sang Seau’s praises as a motivational speaker, as a player, and as a man: “They broke the mold with him,” Kraft remarked.

Donning one of his trademark hats before facing the cameras, this one had a subtle gray and maroon plaid, Seau confirmed that he injured his left shoulder in week four of last season but continued to play through it for the next 15 weeks, right through to the Super Bowl. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his rotator cuff, but wasn’t physically ready in time for training camp and didn’t want to sit on the sidelines waiting for it to heal.

He reiterated what he said in an August radio interview — that New England is the only team he would suit up for.

“It’s only with the Patriots. The only reason why I would come back is to finish what we didn’t finish last year; that’s the only purpose. There’s no other reason for me to come back,” Seau said. “With the guys in that locker room and the organization, it’s just such a great (time). I have a place in my heart for them forever, and I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else but the Krafts and Belichick.”

Interestingly, while he seems resigned to not playing this season, he hasn’t ruled out a return next year.

“I don’t expect a phone call anytime soon. The waves are going well and I’m pretty happy where I am with the coolers and being part of the life with my kids and what have you, but you never know about next year,” he said, adding with a laugh that the former graduate, not retiree, wants to “get some extra credit.”

Clearly there are some elements of the game he misses. This is the first time in decades that Seau has not been on a football team, and he mentions the locker room and the huddle as times he’s missing.

Seau continues to keep tabs on New England from afar, and said rookie inside linebacker Jerod Mayo is playing “great” to this point. He added that a young player can’t be with a better team than the Patriots.

“I’m right with them,” he said of his former Pats teammates. “I’m watching them every play, and looking at all the boys. There’s a brotherhood there, and that brotherhood is not going to end; it will go on for years in the future. You have to experience it; it’s special.”

As New England progressed through the playoffs last year and was on the cusp of a 19-0 season, one of the additional motivators for the team was Seau, and getting him a ring to cap his Hall of Fame career. The emotional leader had been to only one previous Super Bowl, a loss in 1994.

Yesterday, however, wearing his gleaming conference championship ring, he expressed no feelings of missing out.

“The only memory that I have is being able to be part of something special. It was a special journey for all of us. There isn’t one game that’s going to take that away. I’ll hold onto that forever. There’s only a certain amount of days, a certain amount of moments that you can cherish,” he said. “Being part of the New England Patriots for the two years that I was there, and especially last year, 18-1 is something I can rest with.”

smanza@projo.com