January 29 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Chargers hired Chris O’Leary as their defensive coordinator.
The Chargers announced the move Wednesday night. O’Leary serves as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach through the 2025 season and as the Chargers’ safeties coach in 2024.
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He also spent time at Notre Dame, Florida Tech and Georgia State. O’Leary will replace former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who left the team to take over as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
Under Minter, the Chargers have the fifth-best defense in the NFL. They have the fifth pass defense and the eighth run defense. Minter’s Chargers defense ranks 11th in 2024, seventh in pass defense and 14th in run defense.
Under O’Leary, Western Michigan ranks 17th in yards allowed per game in the 136-team Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in 2025. The Broncos have the nation’s 18th-ranked pass defense and 34th-ranked run defense.
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They rank tied for 10th in defensive touchdowns, fifth in fumble receptions, 12th in third-down conversion rate, 13th in red zone defense and tied for 15th in turnovers.
The Chargers officially hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator on Monday and interviewed defensive backs coach Steven Klinscale and safeties coach Adam Fuller, among others, regarding the defensive coordinator vacancy.
