The Los Angeles Chargers are starting to reshape their coaching staff, and the moves they’re making hint at a significant philosophical shift on both sides of the ball. On Tuesday, the team made two key moves: hiring Butch Barry as their new offensive line coach and requesting to interview Jim Leonhard for the vacant defensive coordinator position. Both decisions carry weight - and risk - as the Chargers look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season.
Butch Barry Takes Over the Offensive Line
Let’s start in the trenches, where the Chargers have hired Butch Barry to take over as offensive line coach. Barry, who spent the last three seasons in the same role with the Miami Dolphins, is well-versed in the system Mike McDaniel runs - a system that’s now expected to influence the Chargers' offensive identity moving forward.
Barry’s coaching résumé also includes a stint with the University of Miami, giving him both NFL and collegiate experience. But here's the reality: the Dolphins' offensive line struggled mightily in 2025.
According to Pro Football Focus, Miami's unit ranked 29th out of 32 teams - just one spot ahead of the Chargers’ own line, which finished 30th. That’s not exactly the kind of track record that inspires instant confidence.
Still, this hire isn’t just about past performance - it’s about fit. If the Chargers are committing to a McDaniel-influenced offensive scheme, it makes sense to bring in someone familiar with the nuances of that system.
Barry has worked closely with McDaniel and understands the zone-blocking principles, timing, and spacing that make it go. That continuity could help accelerate the learning curve for a unit that was one of the team’s biggest liabilities last season.
But let’s be honest - this is a gamble. The offensive line was arguably the team’s biggest weakness in 2025, and putting it in the hands of a coach coming off a similarly underperforming year isn’t without risk.
The Chargers are betting that Barry’s knowledge of the system outweighs the raw numbers. If that bet pays off, this line could take a big step forward.
If not, the pressure will fall squarely on the coaching staff to answer for the setback.
Jim Leonhard in the Mix for Defensive Coordinator
On the defensive side, the Chargers are still searching for someone to replace Jesse Minter, who left to become the Ravens’ head coach. One name now officially on their radar: Jim Leonhard.
The Chargers have submitted a request to interview Leonhard, currently the Denver Broncos’ defensive passing game coordinator and assistant head coach. Titles aside, what matters here is the impact Leonhard has had on every defense he’s touched.
Before joining Denver, he built a reputation as one of the sharpest defensive minds in college football during his time as defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. His units were known for their discipline, aggression, and ability to punch above their weight - traits the Chargers could desperately use.
In Denver, Leonhard has been part of a defensive staff that helped turn the Broncos into one of the league’s more disruptive units. His fingerprints were all over a secondary that played fast, physical, and smart - a group that consistently made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
If the Chargers can land him, they’d be getting a coach who brings energy, intelligence, and a proven ability to adapt his scheme to the talent on hand. That’s crucial for a team that has some pieces on defense - but hasn’t quite figured out how to put them all together.
Big Picture: A New Direction
These two moves - one finalized, one in motion - say a lot about where the Chargers are headed. Offensively, they’re leaning into a system that demands precision and cohesion up front. Defensively, they’re targeting a leader who can bring edge and identity to a unit that’s lacked both.
There’s still plenty of work to do, but these are foundational hires. If Barry can stabilize the offensive line and Leonhard brings the defensive intensity he’s known for, the Chargers could be laying the groundwork for a much-needed turnaround in 2026.
But make no mistake - these are bold choices. And bold choices come with pressure.
The Chargers are betting on system familiarity and coaching upside. Now it’s about turning that potential into production.