Chris O'Leary, Chargers Agree to DC Contract to Replace Ravens' Jesse Minter

The Los Angeles Chargers announced Wednesday the hiring of Chris O'Leary as their new defensive coordinator, replacing Mike Minter after he took the head-coaching gig with the Baltimore Ravens.

O'Leary spent the 2025 season as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. He previously worked under Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh as the safeties coach in 2024.

Cornerback Elijah Molden was clearly happy with the hire:

Harbaugh will have two new coordinators by his side after firing former offensive coordinator Greg Roman and replacing him with Mike McDaniel.

O'Leary cut his teeth at Notre Dame, working up from a role as a defensive analyst in 2018 to coaching the defensive backs (safeties) from 2021-23. And his Western Michigan defense was one of the better ones in the country, helping to pace the team's Mid-American Conference Championship.

The Chargers have reached the playoff in each of Harbaugh's two seasons on the job, though they've yet to win a postseason game. Now he'll be looking to end that trend with new leaders in charge of his offense and defense.