Following the finalization of the initial 53-man roster, Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary spoke about the evaluation process that shaped the final makeup of the safety room.
O'Leary expressed immense pride in how the roster shook out, specifically highlighting the players who forced the front office's hand by executing when it mattered most.
“It got down to the last week,” O’Leary noted during his press conference. “You see Kendall [Williamson] make the roster, you see TJeff [Tony Jefferson] make the roster. They just all put themselves in a position where they were above the line. Very proud of that group.”
For O’Leary, who previously coached the Chargers' safeties in 2024 before a highly successful stint leading Western Michigan’s
defense, returning to Los Angeles meant maximizing the unit's strength. His philosophy relies heavily on three-safety looks and deceptive coverage rotations.
At the epicenter of this safety room is All-Pro Derwin James Jr., who locked in a multi-year contract extension earlier this offseason. While former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter used James heavily as a nickelback in the slot, O'Leary plans to use him in multiple roles, including blitzing and dropping into coverage from various field positions.
However, maximizing James requires dependable counterparts who can rotate roles seamlessly.
Elijah Molden will co-lead the room alongside James. This deep room is further reinforced by veteran Tony Jefferson, who had a career year in 2025 with four interceptions, second-year RJ Mickens, who flashed in his rookie season, fourth-round pick Genesis Smith, who's still developing his game but already has elite ball skills, and Kendall Williamson, a special teams ace.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chris O'Leary explains Chargers' safety depth and roster decisions
