Chris O”Leary has made a triumphant return to the Los Angeles Chargers, stepping in as the new defensive coordinator following the departure of Jesse Minter, who recently accepted the head coaching position with the Baltimore Ravens. O”Leary previously served as the team”s safeties coach in 2024.
After leaving the Chargers, O”Leary spent the 2025 season as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. While he was deeply invested in his role there, he couldn”t shake the allure of Southern California. Each Wednesday last season, once his duties with the Broncos concluded, O”Leary would analyze the latest Chargers game footage, preparing highlights for his college players. He would adjust terminology to make it relatable for them, emphasizing the importance of observing top-level talent.
“Watch the guys at the highest level do it,” O”Leary shared, recalling his messages to the Western Michigan players.
O”Leary”s return to the Chargers was expedited after Minter”s exit, with the hiring process receiving full support from Minter himself. O”Leary and Minter have a long history together that dates back to their time at Indiana State, where O”Leary was a scout team quarterback and a wide receiver under Minter”s father”s coaching. Their paths crossed again at Georgia State, where O”Leary worked as a graduate assistant with the defensive line.
Despite his limited knowledge of the defensive line, O”Leary discovered a passion for defense that would define his coaching career. He later worked at Florida Tech and spent six seasons at Notre Dame before joining the Chargers” staff under head coach Jim Harbaugh prior to the 2024 season. During his previous tenure with the Chargers, O”Leary helped cultivate one of the league”s top defenses.
Last season, O”Leary guided Western Michigan to a Mid-American Conference championship, concluding the year with a 10-4 record. The Broncos” defense ranked among the best in the nation, allowing an average of 17.4 points per game, positioning them as ninth-best in FBS and second in the MAC. O”Leary reflected on the rocky start to his time at Western Michigan, noting a tough game against Michigan State where his defense struggled early on.
“I think three of the first four drives against Michigan State we gave up touchdowns,” he recalled, describing it as a wake-up call for his squad.
Despite the early setbacks, Western Michigan rallied, finishing the season strong with a remarkable 10-1 record. O”Leary”s return to the Chargers was a straightforward decision for him, despite having other offers on the table. The prospect of rejoining the Chargers was simply irresistible.
Coaches and players quickly reached out to O”Leary upon news of his return, with Pro Bowl safety Derwin James Jr. even calling during the interview process. “I think he called during the interview,” O”Leary laughed.
Now, O”Leary faces the challenge of enhancing one of the NFL”s top defenses. The Chargers finished the previous season as the ninth-best defense, allowing an average of 20 points per game, which contributed to their second consecutive season with 11 wins.
“There are two things we”re going to focus on,” O”Leary stated. “Number one, we”re going to elevate what we do well. The foundation of our defense, we”re going to elevate that. We”re going to do what we do and do it better. The second thing we”re going to do is evolve the defense. We”re going to add things. We”re going to tailor things to the players, the personnel we have going into the season.”
O”Leary chuckled when asked if he had contacted standout outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh, both pending unrestricted free agents, to encourage their return. That responsibility falls to general manager Joe Hortiz in the coming weeks, as free agency opens on March 11.
“I think all the guys here see me as a coach, see me as a guy who”s going to push them and really pull the most out of them,” O”Leary said, reflecting on his connection with players. “When I left Western Michigan, I cried like a baby when I was talking to the players because you invest so much in them. They want a coach who loves them, respects them as a person, who wants what”s best for them and, ultimately, makes them better.”
