EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Unction is raging. It is not stopping anytime soon, and all NFL quarterbacks are invited.
Safety Tony Jefferson — known lovingly in the Los Angeles Chargers locker room simply as “Unc” — is having a career season at 33 years old. Though he has played only 41.5 percent of the Chargers’ defensive snaps this season, Jefferson is tied for the team lead with four interceptions. His most recent interception iced a Chargers win over the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime Monday night. Jefferson has an interception in each of the past two games, with the other coming in Week 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jefferson’s journey back to this point — to making game-deciding plays against the defending Super Bowl champions — has been nothing short of remarkable. Two years ago, Jefferson was working in the Baltimore Ravens’ scouting department. He announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons in May 2023, and he was figuring out how to stay around the game after his playing days were seemingly over. Maybe that was scouting. Maybe that was coaching.
As it turns out, the best way to stay around the game was to put the pads back on and get on the field.
“He knew it wasn’t over,” Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley said, “and he’s proving it to you right now.”
never give up. never quit. pic.twitter.com/0aelFcAbHV
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 9, 2025
Jefferson made one of the biggest plays of the Chargers’ season Monday night. The Chargers led the Eagles by 3 points late in overtime. The Eagles had driven deep into Chargers territory. They were well within field goal range, and the game was heading toward another tie score. On a first down from the Los Angeles 17-yard line, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts faked a handoff to running back Saquon Barkley before rolling to the right.
Edge rusher Khalil Mack closed down on Hurts, who was reading a two-man high-low concept to the right sideline. Jefferson was aligned as a two-deep safety to that side of the field. Cornerback Cam Hart was defending the flat. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert was running to the flat, drawing Hart. Receiver Jahan Dotson was running a corner route, breaking away from Jefferson and behind Hart.
Hurts tried to throw to the hole in between Hart and Jefferson. Hart read Hurts’ eyes and dropped into the window. He tipped the pass as Jefferson was running to the sideline. Jefferson adjusted, set his feet and made a twisting catch on the ball behind him. He slid to the ground in bounds before standing up to try to return the interception. Henley, with a heads-up play, tackled Jefferson to the ground to end the game.
“All glory to God,” Jefferson said in the locker room after the win, “and glory to Cam Hart.”
s/o cam hart fr 🤞 pic.twitter.com/QyyhPJJIMW
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 10, 2025
Jefferson sprinted down the Eagles sideline in celebration. He gave a look to Eagles coach Nick Sirianni. Teammates sprinted after him. Jefferson made it all the way to the far end zone.
This is the type of euphoria reserved only for those who play the game.
Did Jefferson even think this was possible when he made the decision to come back and tried out for the Chargers in spring 2024?
He worked out that day for his former colleague, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who was working in the Ravens front office when Jefferson was a scout there in 2023.
“I would want this moment,” Jefferson said. “I would always think about and dream about moments like making a big play in a circumstance like this.”
In winter 2024, Jefferson was in Mobile, Ala., scouting the Senior Bowl for the Ravens. At one of the practices, he watched Hart, then a Notre Dame draft prospect, show off his length, size and speed in one-on-one drills. The Chargers drafted Hart in the fifth round that April.
Two years later, Jefferson is catching interceptions on passes tipped by a player he once scouted.
“Tony’s like a brother for me,” Hart said.
In the locker room Monday night, Jefferson was asked whether he would take any time to reflect on his unorthodox pathway back into the NFL as a player.
“Nah, I’m already over it,” Jefferson replied. “The only thing I reflect on is just trying to make more plays.”
Jefferson did not come back to merely get another taste of action. He came back to be a difference-maker. He wants a full meal.
Jefferson never lost his instincts, and he never lost his football intelligence. As coach Jim Harbaugh said, “He’s always in the right spot.” That puts Jefferson around the football regularly, and it has led to his four-interception season.
Coach Jim Harbaugh says of Tony Jefferson: “He’s always in the right spot.” (Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
His first interception came in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders. That was his first interception since the season opener against the Buffalo Bills in 2018, when Jefferson was playing for the Ravens. In the second quarter of that Raiders game, Jefferson plastered receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. in a scramble drill. Thornton initially ran an out-breaking route. As quarterback Geno Smith escaped the pocket, Thornton took off for the end zone. Jefferson followed him. Smith threw up a jump ball down the right sideline, and Jefferson came away with the pick.
In Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins, Jefferson was playing in the post early in the first quarter. Receiver Jaylen Waddle came open on an in-breaking route over the middle. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw an accurate ball, but the pass went off Waddle’s hands. Jefferson had been driving down on the route. He was, of course, in perfect position, and he intercepted the drop.
In Week 13 against the Raiders, Jefferson was again playing as the post safety. Smith threw a deep shot down the left sideline to Thornton. Cornerback Donte Jackson broke up the pass. Jefferson, who had been sprinting across the field to provide help over the top to Jackson, made an acrobatic catch, just getting both feet in bounds along the sideline.
Jefferson retired with four interceptions in nine seasons. He has doubled his career total this season.
The Chargers have a saying in their defensive meeting room: “The ball finds energy.”
There is no better example of that than Jefferson.
“Itching to make plays,” cornerback Tarheeb Still said.
In the locker room Monday night, Henley quoted his grandmother to describe Jefferson.
“My granny said, ‘That Tony, whenever he’s on the field, he seems to make plays,’” Henley said. “That is literally her exact words in a regular conversation with my grandma. He’s a baller. All ages can see it.”
absolute cinema 🤌 pic.twitter.com/qpiJKA8jNE
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 10, 2025
Jefferson has been forced to prove himself at each step over the past two seasons. He has acknowledged he “wasn’t in condition” when he first joined the Chargers as a tryout player for 2024 minicamp. He officially signed after minicamp June 14. In training camp that summer, he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain that he played through in practice.
The turning point last season came in the final preseason game. Surrounded by rookies trying to make their first NFL rosters, Jefferson had two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble against the Dallas Cowboys. He made the Chargers’ 53-man roster three days later.
Jefferson played in eight regular-season games for the Chargers in 2024. He started their playoff loss at the Houston Texans, after safety Elijah Molden went down with a season-ending injury in Week 17.
Jefferson re-signed with the Chargers in the offseason on a one-year deal. He was fully in shape. Jefferson said he took only a week off after the 2024 season ended before he started training again. In training camp and the preseason this year, he looked like an improved version of himself, even compared with how he was playing at the end of 2024.
Then he was left off the 53-man roster. Jefferson had opportunities to sign with other teams, but he ultimately chose to sign to the Chargers’ practice squad.
He was elevated to the game-day roster ahead of the Chargers’ Week 2 game against the Raiders. He had a pick in that game. Three days later, he was signed to the active roster, where he has spent the rest of this season.
Jefferson was firmly in the rotation at safety early on this year, but he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8. He missed the next game, a road win at the Tennessee Titans, with the injury.
When Jefferson returned to full health, he once again found himself on the outside looking in. Jefferson was a healthy scratch in Week 10. He was a healthy scratch in Week 11.
The Chargers got Jefferson back in the lineup after their bye in Week 12. He had rewarded them with two interceptions.
Getting cut. Starting this season on the practice squad. Being a healthy scratch.
“That’s really what motivates me,” Jefferson said.
As the Chargers head down the home stretch and eye a second straight playoff appearance, they need Jefferson on the field.
“Tony Jefferson may have to delay his coaching career or front-office career for a while,” Harbaugh said.
All that can wait.
Jefferson’s focus is on the ball.
“How can I get five picks now?” he said.