To say nothing has gone right for the Los Angeles Chargers this season would get no pushback from basically anyone who listened to you say it. A team that had real Super Bowl buzz and a vision for, at the very least, a couple of games of playoff success is now staring down the barrel at 0-8, and they've switched gears to becoming contenders for the top selection in the 2027 NFL Draft. However, to say nothing has gone right? Well, defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary may have a word.
The departure of Jesse Minter hit Chargers fans as hard as any coordinator leaving since Ben Johnson hit the road from Detroit to the Windy City. Minter made a name for himself in Los Angeles, turning the defense into an absolute buzzsaw of a unit despite Joe Hortiz's lack of resources invested into the group. Turning the page from a Brandon Staley-led defense and seeing the group blossom into a top-ten unit was a shock to everyone who watched.
So, when Minter hit the road to become the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, many expected the Chargers' defense to take a hit in 2026. With the hiring of Mike McDaniel, no one saw the offense being the reason the team could potentially fail.
Chris O'Leary has made the Chargers' defensive transition seamless
Unfortunately for everyone who doubted the young signal caller, O'Leary had other plans. The first couple of weeks of the season had their hiccups, and fans were ready to sound the alarms. The Cardinals and Raiders were two of the worst teams in the league, and O'Leary had let them march up and down the field with ease? It didn't matter.
Once the wheels started turning for this Chargers defense, they really started turning. Unlike the offense, the defense did not just keep the game plan the same and hope for different results. O'Leary drew up different looks, started dialing up blitzes at the right time, and began pushing every button necessary to keep the Chargers in football games while the offense let its wheels turn with no real movement.
Minter was everything the Chargers needed him to be during his time with the team. The impact he made on a unit that left fans nervous every week before his arrival cannot be understated. His time in Baltimore has gotten off to a rocky start, both due to injuries on offense and overall defensive woes.
However, O'Leary has come in and made the transition for this Chargers defense as seamless as fans could ask for. In a season full of uncertainty and disappointment, O'Leary has been the consistent positive we can all look forward to on a weekly basis.
If there really is a housecleaning going into the 2027 season, Chris O'Leary can be the one exception to the rule.
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