Chargers Bring S Tony Jefferson Out of Retirement

The Los Angeles Chargers signed safety Tony Jefferson on Friday, the team announced.

Jefferson, 32, spent last season as a scouting intern with the Baltimore Ravens after announcing his retirement in May 2023.

As an intern, he worked under current Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who was then the Ravens' director of player personnel.

Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson last played for the New York Giants in 2022

Jefferson played for 10 seasons in the NFL after going undrafted in 2013 out of Oklahoma. The 5-foot-11, 211-pound safety signed with the Arizona Cardinals and played with them for his first four seasons (2013-16).

The Oklahoma product then signed with Baltimore and played 3½ seasons (2017-2019, 2021) with the team. After spending the 2020 season out of football, he spent the 2021 season with the Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

locking it down

we've signed DB tony jefferson → https://t.co/jUpo1M8dMn pic.twitter.com/XrEjWIDivt

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) June 14, 2024

Jefferson last played with the New York Giants in 2022, where he appeared in nine games and had 23 tackles.

Through 113 games (67 starts), he has career totals of four interceptions, 24 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 492 combined tackles, and 20 quarterback hits.

During his time in Baltimore, he worked with current Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, a defensive assistant and defensive backs coach for the Ravens from 2017 to 2020.

Jefferson will compete for the third spot on the safety depth chart behind Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman

“Tony's a guy I've known since 2017 and just a pro's pro that is very knowledgeable of some of the things that we're doing defensively,” Minter said. “... I think he really wants to play. He's got himself back into football shape over the last couple months, and so it'll be interesting to see how it shakes out.”

The Chargers brought Jefferson in for the team's minicamp on a tryout basis. Since the California native exceeded expectations, Minter advocated for his signing.

Jefferson will compete for the third spot on the Chargers' safety depth chart behind All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. and Alohi Gilman.

Additionally, Jefferson is the latest former Ravens player to sign with the Chargers, joining tight end Hayden Hurst, running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, tight end Ben Mason, and center Bradley Bozeman.