The Chargers have not had a ton of success with their inside linebackers since the days of Junior Seau came to an end. They’ve struggled to identify and draft productive and consistent players at the position, with the most successful linebacker of this century being a free agent addition.
Still, they’ve had some under-the-radar players that never quite burst into those upper tiers, but they were consistent contributors for a number of years. The bar wasn’t terribly high to make this list of options,
but they’re the ones the team has.
Let’s go ahead and find out which linebacker will be the first to join the Chargers Quarter Century Team.
Denzel Perryman (2015-2020, 2024)
Perryman was drafted by the Chargers in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. In seven years across two different stints with the Bolts, Perryman has amassed 404 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, six sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He has started 62 games for the Chargers while playing in 80 total.
Donnie Edwards (2002-2006)
Edwards joined the Chargers as a free agent after spending his first six NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his first season with the Bolts, Edwards earned his first of two Second-Team All-Pro nods after recording 129 tackles, six tackles for loss, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 11 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery returned 82 yards for a score.
In just five seasons, Edwards racked up 740 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, a whopping 7 interceptions (two returned for scores), 53 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and the aforementioned score. Edwards’ lone Pro Bowl honor also came in 2002 and his second All-Pro nod came in 2004.
Stephen Cooper (2003-2011)
Cooper went from undrafted free agent to one of the most productive inside linebackers the Chargers have ever had. Despite not earning a starting job through his first four professional seasons, Cooper was a steady backup who still notched eight starts while playing in every game over that span. In 2007, Cooper earned his first full-time gig, starting all 16 games and recording a career-high 107 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
During his nine years with the Chargers, Cooper accumulated 503 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, eight interceptions, 31 pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries.
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