Jan. 29 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Chargers hired Chris O’Leary as their defensive coordinator.
The Chargers announced the move late Wednesday. O’Leary, who spent the 2025 campaign as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Western Michigan, was the Chargers’ safeties coach in 2024.
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He also spent time at Notre Dame, Florida Tech and Georgia State. O’Leary will take over for former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who left the team to take over as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
The Chargers owned the NFL’s No. 5 defense under Minter. They owned the No. 5 pass defense and No. 8 run defense. Minter’s Chargers defense ranked 11th in 2024, with the No. 7 pass defense and No. 14 run defense.
Under O’Leary, Western Michigan allowed the 17th-fewest yards per game out of the 136-team Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in 2025. The Broncos owned the nation’s No. 18 pass defense and No. 34 run defense.
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They tied for 10th in defensive touchdowns, ranked 5th in fumble recoveries, 12th in third-down conversion percentage allowed, 13th in red zone defense and tied for 15th in turnovers gained.
The Chargers, who officially hired Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator on Monday, also interviewed defensive backs coach Steven Clinkscale and safeties coach Adam Fuller, among others, for their defensive coordinator vacancy.