The Los Angeles Chargers have officially agreed to terms with Chris O’Leary to be the team’s new defensive coordinator, the organization announced Wednesday night.
O’Leary, who spent the 2025 season as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, returns to the Chargers after previously coaching the team’s safeties during the 2024 NFL season under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
A Defensive Mind on the Rise
At Western Michigan, O’Leary’s impact was immediate.
In his lone season as the Broncos’ DC, his defense ranked ninth in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in scoring defense and second in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), allowing just 17.4 points per game.
The unit also finished 19th nationally in total net yards allowed per game, helping Western Michigan to a 10–4 record and a MAC championship.
Before his success in Kalamazoo, O’Leary spent six seasons on the defensive coaching staff at Notre Dame, working his way from defensive analyst to defensive backs and safeties coach.
He also served as the Chargers’ safeties coach in 2024, contributing to a defense that led the NFL in fewest points allowed per game (just 17.7).
Chargers Defense: Continuity and Confidence
O’Leary replaces Jesse Minter, who left Los Angeles to become the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
Under Minter, the Chargers’ defense emerged as one of the league’s best—ranking fifth in overall defense last season.
Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley voiced excitement about the hire on social media, saying, “The vibes are up,” shortly after the announcement.
Other defensive players, including safeties Tony Jefferson and Elijah Molden, also publicly supported the move.
O’Leary’s familiarity with the Chargers’ defensive personnel, coupled with his recent success at the collegiate level, gives the organization confidence that he can maintain—or even enhance—the unit’s performance.
Looking Ahead
At just 34 years old, O’Leary becomes one of the youngest coordinators in the NFL, and his rise has drawn attention around the league.
His coaching journey—from graduate assistant roles in college football to the NFL sidelines—reflects a rising profile in defensive strategy and player development.
Chargers fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as O’Leary steps into a pivotal role for the 2026 season, tasked with sustaining the defensive success that has defined Los Angeles under Harbaugh’s regime.
