Chargers Hire Chris O'leary As Their Defensive Coordinator

The Chargers are turning to a acquainted sanction to guideline their defense.

Chris O’Leary, who worked arsenic nan Chargers’ safeties coach successful 2024 nether coach Jim Harbaugh earlier spending 2025 arsenic nan protect coordinator astatine Western Michigan, was hired arsenic nan Chargers’ protect coordinator connected Wednesday night.

O’Leary helped guideline Western Michigan to a 10-4 grounds and nan Mid-American Conference championship. His defense classed ninth successful nan Football Bowl Subdivision and was 2nd successful nan MAC successful scoring defense (17.4 points allowed per game).

Before his stint pinch nan Chargers, O’Leary spent six seasons coaching successful different roles astatine Notre Dame, yet becoming a protect backs and safeties coach. He worked nether erstwhile Chargers protect coordinator Jesse Minter arsenic a postgraduate adjunct astatine Georgia State successful 2014 and 2015. He played astatine Indiana State arsenic a wide receiver from 2010-14.

The Chargers allowed conscionable 17.7 points per crippled — nan champion people successful nan NFL — nether O’Leary and Minter successful 2024. Led by information Derwin James Jr., nan Chargers had a 75.9 passer standing erstwhile targeted, 3rd among NFL information units successful 2024.

The mobility is whether O’Leary tin replicate nan occurrence Minter achieved en way to landing a caput coaching job pinch nan Baltimore Ravens.

After moving together to triumph a nationalist title astatine Michigan, nan Minter-Harbaugh operation revived a Chargers defense that struggled nether previous coach Brandon Staley. Inheriting a squad that classed 28th successful yards allowed per crippled (363) and 24th successful points allowed per crippled (23.4) successful 2023, nan Chargers moved up to 11th successful yards allowed (324) and first successful points allowed per crippled successful 2024. Last season, nan squad was 5th successful yards per crippled (285.2) and ninth successful points allowed (20.0).

Helping O’Leary’s cause? Most of nan Chargers’ apical protect players are returning.

The squad has an estimated $80.5 cardinal successful salary-cap space, according to Overthecap.com, and wide head Joe Hortiz said he’s readying to usage it. In their first large move of nan offseason, nan Chargers re-signed Teair Tart to a three-year statement Monday, keeping their anchor connected nan protect line.

Re-signing extracurricular linebacker Odafe Oweh will beryllium among nan Chargers’ priorities, particularly if pending free supplier Khalil Mack opts for retirement.

O’Leary isn’t arsenic high-profile a hiring arsenic Chargers violative coordinator Mike McDaniel, but he stands to return complete a protect portion that could make him look amended than a $12,000 designer jacket.