It seemed inevitable that Jesse Minter would leave the Chargers sooner rather than later after two highly successful seasons as their defensive coordinator. He went to the Baltimore Ravens with the Chargers’ blessing, taking over as head coach for Jim Harbaugh’s brother, John, who had been fired in January.
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It also seemed something of a foregone conclusion that the Chargers would replace Minter with a familiar face, someone who knew the players, coaches and culture, and what it might take to maintain the high standards set over the past two seasons and maybe even raise them.
So, enter Chris O’Leary, who spent one season as the defensive coordinator for the University of Western Michigan, helping to guide the Broncos to a 10-4 record and the Mid-American Conference championship. The Broncos had the ninth-best defense in the FBS, giving up 17.4 points per game.
O’Leary went the college route after coaching the Chargers’ safeties during the 2024 season, when the team gave up an NFL-low 17.7 points per game. Derwin James Jr. was selected for the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his career, capping a ’24 season that featured 70 tackles and five sacks.
So, now O’Leary is back with the Chargers in an enhanced role, and with plenty of the same faces that were on the roster when he was with the team two seasons ago. James signed a three-year, $75.6 contract extension in May. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack signed a one-year, $18-million deal in March.
“In a great spot,” O’Leary said last week when asked where he believed the Chargers’ defense stood as the season-opening game loomed Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. “We’re exactly where we wanted to be and what we needed to be right now. We’re ready to go.”
Here’s a closer look, position-by-position, at O’Leary’s 2026 defense:
Defensive line
Starters: Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jamaree Caldwell
Backups: Justin Eboigbe, Nick Barrett
General manager Joe Hortiz wasn’t messing around back January, signing Tart to a three-year deal worth up to $37.5 million, solidifying the defensive line for seasons to come. Hortiz didn’t wish to have a repeat of the previous offseason when Poona Ford signed with the Rams, creating a void.
In addition, Hortiz also signed veteran Dalvin Tomlinson, a free agent from Arizona. Hortiz and Harbaugh have made no secret during their respective time with the Chargers that building strong offensive and defensive lines is a priority, and that was obvious during a busy offseason.
Outside linebackers
Starters: Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu
Backups: Ahkeem Mesidor, Bud Dupree
O’Leary referred to Mesidor as “awesome” during an impressive rookie training camp. Actually, O’Leary repeated himself for emphasis because he believed the Chargers’ first-round draft pick was that good during one-on-one battles with the Chargers’ linemen during camp.
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Mesidor’s selection with the 22nd overall pick was something of a no-brainer since the Chargers’ don’t expect Mack to play forever, although he does seem ageless at times at the ripe old age of 35, far closer to a likely enshrinement in the Hall of Fame than to the start of his NFL career.
Oh, by the way, Tuipulotu had a career-high 13 sacks in 2025.
Inside linebackers
Starters: Daiyan Henley, Troy Dye
Backups: Del’Shawn Phillips, Marlowe Wax
The linebacking corps took a hit when expected starter Denzel Perryman was placed on injured reserve last week, which means he must miss at least the first four games of the season. Troy Dye is the likely replacement for Perryman, lining up next to well-established team leader Henley.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson or Cam Hart
Backups: Deane Leonard, Rodney Shelley
Still, Jackson and Hart formed a three-man rotation at the position last season and it’s anticipated that O’Leary will keep it that way. Leonard is a special-teams ace capable of filling in at cornerback when needed. Shelley was among the most impressive players during camp.
Safeties
Starters: Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden
Backups: Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens, Genesis Smith, Kendall Williamson
Minter asked James to play in a variety of positions on the field. Sometimes he had James in a traditional deep position, covering wide receivers running routes to the sidelines or over the middle.
But, at other times, James played closer to the line of scrimmage, acting as an extra blitzer or a run-stopper depending on the down and distance the opposing offense faced. It left Molden, Jefferson or the others to play a deeper role while James roamed the field with malice aforethought.
Specialists
Cameron Dicker (kicker), JK Scott (punter) Josh Harris (long snapper)
The three have been together since midway through the 2022 season, but there was speculation that a change might be in order after Dicker misfired on two extra points during the preseason and and Scott had a less-than-stellar showing in a game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Hortiz shot down any thoughts of changes during an interview with beat reporters last week. So, consider the status quo the status quo when it comes to the Chargers’ specialists, which also would include wide receiver Derius Davis as their returner of kickoffs and punts for a fourth consecutive season.
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