In a significant development for the Los Angeles Chargers, the team has officially announced Chris O’Leary as their new defensive coordinator, a decision made public on Wednesday evening. This move comes after O’Leary spent the previous season in 2024 working as the safeties coach for the Chargers before briefly transitioning to the role of defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. Now, he steps into the shoes of Jesse Minter, the former defensive coordinator who recently accepted the head coaching position with the Baltimore Ravens.
During his tenure with the Chargers, O’Leary played a pivotal role in implementing Minter’s defensive strategy. He was particularly effective in coaching star safety Derwin James Jr., who experienced a remarkable comeback season, earning All-Pro honors in his first year within this new system. O’Leary dedicated a significant portion of practice time to one-on-one sessions with James, guiding him through various coverage assignments tailored to his strengths. Notably, these training drills often involved James playing in the nickel position—a role he excelled in over recent seasons—which allowed him to get closer to the line of scrimmage and reclaim his elite form. It was O’Leary's expertise that helped facilitate this transition for James.
Furthermore, O’Leary was instrumental in integrating safety Elijah Molden into the team following a late August trade in 2024. Molden arrived in Los Angeles just ten days ahead of their opening game against the Las Vegas Raiders. To ensure Molden was ready, O’Leary committed to extensive preparation, meeting with him for two and a half hours each day over three consecutive days. Molden later expressed how impressed he was with O’Leary’s ability to effectively convey the entirety of Minter’s playbook during those crucial meetings. O’Leary made it a point to be accessible at all hours, whether through texts, phone calls, or FaceTime, to support Molden’s onboarding process. The hard work paid off, as Molden made a notable impact by recording an interception in Week 2.
"That’s my dog," Molden remarked about O’Leary, affectionately describing him as akin to a young uncle or a big brother.
O’Leary’s coaching journey includes six seasons at Notre Dame prior to joining the Chargers. His connection with Minter dates back to 2015 when they collaborated at Georgia State, where Minter served as the defensive coordinator and O’Leary was a graduate assistant. Their paths crossed again in 2024 when head coach Jim Harbaugh was forming his coaching staff for the Chargers.
Given the success of the Chargers' defense in 2024, O’Leary was highly regarded within the organization. After a brief stint at Western Michigan, where his defense ranked ninth in the FBS for scoring defense in 2025—allowing an impressive average of just 17.4 points per game—he returned to the Chargers as their defensive coordinator.
The Chargers considered several internal candidates for the vacant defensive coordinator position, including Steve Clinkscale (defensive backs coach), Adam Fuller (safeties coach), and Dylan Roney (edge rushers coach). However, the decision seemed to favor continuity within the defensive scheme, especially given Minter's success over his initial two years, during which the Chargers ranked seventh in defensive EPA/play, according to data from TruMedia.
Ultimately, the Chargers have chosen to promote from within the Minter coaching tree by hiring O’Leary, who demonstrated considerable promise and skill during his inaugural NFL season. What are your thoughts on this coaching shift? Do you believe O’Leary will bring fresh energy to the defense, or do you think a more radical change was necessary? Share your opinions below!
