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Chris O'Leary becomes NFL defensive coordinator at 34

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 14, 2026, 11:17 PM

Last updated Aug 14, 2026

Football

Summary

Chris O'Leary, a 34-year-old graduate of Terre Haute North High School, has been appointed as the Los Angeles Chargers' defensive coordinator. O'Leary’s coaching journey includes roles as safeties coach for the Chargers and the University of Notre Dame. His career rapidly progressed after serving as defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. O'Leary credits mentors Jesse Minter and Trent Miles for significantly influencing his coaching development. He has returned to the Chargers following Minter's promotion to the Baltimore Ravens head coach position after the 2025 season.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Chris O'Leary graduated from Terre Haute North High School in 2010.
•He served as a graduate assistant at Georgia State from 2015-2016.
•O'Leary was safeties coach at Notre Dame from 2021 to 2023.
•He was defensive coordinator at Western Michigan for one season in 2025.
•Jesse Minter's promotion led to O'Leary's return to the Chargers.

Latest Updates

11:17 PMYahoo Sports — DAVID HUGHES: Only 34, Terre Haute North grad Chris O'Leary already an NFL D-coordinator

What they're saying

"
Like a lot of Terre Haute youngsters growing up in the early 2000s, Chris O'Leary spent plenty of hot summer days trying to get Peyton Manning's autograph during the Indianapolis Colts' preseason training camps at Rose-Hulman. Those took place here for 11 consecutive years (1999-2009). But O'Leary — usually joined by his father Patrick and brothers Marc, Dan and Matt — didn't just focus on the ...
— Yahoo Sports

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Los Angeles Chargers Baltimore Ravens Indianapolis Colts NFL Football