Chris O’Leary is back with the Los Angeles Chargers after spending a season as defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. O’Leary was the Chargers’ safeties coach during the 2024 season, so he has experience working with multiple current Chargers players.

After the Chargers announced the franchise had agreed to terms with O’Leary to be defensive coordinator, several Chargers players expressed their excitement on social media.

Derwin James Jr., Daiyan Henley, Elijah Molden, Tarheeb Still and Tony Jefferson were among many players that showed support for O’Leary taking on the defensive coordinator role.

O’Leary admitted it was difficult for him to leave Western Michigan. But in his introductory press conference on Tuesday, O’Leary told reporters the support from players makes him believe he made the right choice coming back to the Chargers.

“It was just the calls and texts from those guys that really solidified for me, ‘Man, I’m making the right decision,'” O’Leary said, per the team’s official website. “People can say what they want about levels and all that but leaving a place you pour your heart and soul into and you have special relationships with the kids and the staff, it’s hard.

“So when I took this job, that was the most challenging part, it was leaving there,” O’Leary added. “But hearing those calls, it was guys I had a similar conversation with a year ago. There was no hesitation, no second guessing and it made it really special.”

O’Leary told reporters he continued to implement things he learned from the Chargers into Western Michigan’s defense. Therefore, he is also familiar with how the Bolts run their defense.

Multiple Chargers Players Are Excited for O’Leary’s Return

In addition to expressing his excitement on social media, Jefferson predicted O’Leary would eventually become an NFL defensive coordinator last year. In an interview with NFL insider Ari Meirov, Jefferson said O’Leary is one of his “favorite day-to-day coaches”.

O’Leary also told reporters that James was one of the first to call him when he took the job.

“I think Derwin James called me as I was taking the job. It was fast,” O’Leary said. “All of those guys, just to hear their excitement and know I feel the same way, made it special.”

O’Leary’s familiarity with the players will be a big advantage for him in his first season as an NFL defensive coordinator. He will be replacing former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who took a head coaching job with the Baltimore Ravens in January.

Photo Credit: Mike Nowak/ Los Angeles Chargers

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