The Los Angeles Chargers are bringing back Chris O’Leary to fill their last open coordinator position.
The Chargers reached an agreement with O’Leary to make him their next defensive coordinator Wednesday night. O’Leary, who most recently was defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, spent the 2024 campaign as the Chargers’ safeties coach under Jim Harbaugh.
O’Leary will replace Jesse Minter, who left last week to become the next head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Minter will replace Harbaugh’s brother, John, who parted ways with the Ravens after 18 seasons in charge of that franchise.
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O’Leary got his start as a coach at Notre Dame, where he first worked as a graduate assistant before moving up the ranks. After his lone NFL season with the Chargers, O’Leary returned to the college ranks and took over as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator last fall. The Broncos went 10-4 last season and won a MAC title. They also finished second in league defense.
O’Leary is now the second new coordinator Harbaugh has hired in recent days. THE Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as the next offensive coordinator after being fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Chargers went 11-6 last season, but narrowly missed the playoffs in Harbaugh’s first campaign at the helm of the franchise.
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Even though the Chargers will have two new faces at the helm next season, and this will be O’Leary’s first stint as a defensive coordinator in the league, Harbaugh is clearly comfortable enough with him to hand him the reins.
