Los Angeles Chargers new defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary looks to the right.
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O’Leary to become the new defensive coordinator next season, the team announced via X on Wednesday.
O’Leary was the safeties coach for the Chargers during the 2024 season. He left the franchise in 2025 to serve as defensive coordinator at Western Michigan and will now return as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator.
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O’Leary is replacing former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter after the Baltimore Ravens hired Minter as head coach on Jan. 22. The Chargers completed multiple interviews with internal and external candidates before ultimately agreeing to terms with O’Leary.
During his single-season as defensive coordinator for Western Michigan, O’Leary helped the Broncos clinch the fourth Mid-American Conference Championship in program history and finish with a 10-4 record.
With O’Leary leading the safety unit in 2024, the Chargers led the NFL in scoring defense by allowing just 17.7 points per game. O’Leary helped Derwin James Jr. reach his fourth Pro Bowl in 2024 and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts become an All-American and win the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2023.
Los Angeles Chargers new defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary looks to the right.
Tony Jefferson Predicted O’Leary Would Be An NFL Defensive Coordinator
Chargers safety Tony Jefferson came out of retirement and joined the Bolts after impressing coaches at the team’s minicamp in 2024. Jefferson worked with O’Leary in that first season.
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Jefferson told NFL insider Ari Meirov that he believed O’Leary would eventually become an NFL defensive coordinator. And now, a year later, O’Leary is back with the Chargers as defensive coordinator.
“He’s up there as one of my favorite day-to-day coaches. I learned so much from a safety standpoint. Even though I’ve played however long, I was taught so much other stuff by him like how to make plays and be in position. The spotlight needs to be on that dude,” Jefferson said.
#Chargers fans: Tony Jefferson told me LAST YEAR that Chris O’Leary would be a future DC in the NFL … and he’s now the #Chargers DC.
“I’m older than him. He’s up there as one of my favorite day-to-day coaches. I’ve been taught so much safety stuff from him, even though I’ve… pic.twitter.com/dQLAExtACa
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 29, 2026
Jefferson is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. He signed a one-year deal in free agency with Los Angeles last offseason but has yet to re-sign with the franchise this offseason.
In addition to Jefferson, Chargers cornerback Elijah Molden expressed his excitement to work with O’Leary next season on X. Molden also joined the Chargers in 2024 through a trade with the Tennessee Titans in August 2024.
Molden signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract extension with the Chargers in February 2025, so he will not be a free agent this March.
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Photo Credit: Mike Nowak/ Los Angeles Chargers
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