Tag: Tony Jefferson Chargers

Chargers sign safety Tony Jefferson

The Chargers added Tony Jefferson, who has 10 years of playing experience in the NFL.

The Chargers signed safety Tony Jefferson on Friday.

The signing comes after Jefferson tried out during the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Jefferson, 32, joins a safety room that includes Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, JT Woods and AJ Finley. He will be in contention for the third safety spot alongside Woods and Finley.

Jefferson retired following the 2022 season and worked with the Ravens as a scouting intern, so he is familiar with general manager Joe Hortiz, who was their director of player personnel from his playing days and working in that role.

Jefferson has a decade of experience in the league, playing for four different teams. An undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma, he signed with the Cardinals in 2013, where he spent four seasons before landing in Baltimore in 2017.

During his three years in Baltimore, Jefferson forced four turnovers and accumulated 174 tackles.

Jefferson missed the 2020 season due to a torn ACL he suffered in his final season with the Ravens. He signed with the 49ers in 2021 before being released and returning to Baltimore. His final season was with the Giants in 2022 before announcing his retirement.

For his career, Jefferson has 492 tackles, eight forced fumbles, four interceptions, and 24 passes defended in 113 games (67 starts).

Former Ravens safety Tony Jefferson to tryout for Chargers at minicamp

The Chargers are looking to add to their safety room.

Per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, former Ravens safety Tony Jefferson will try out for the Chargers’ roster at a mandatory minicamp this month. Jefferson recently came out of retirement after working as a scouting intern for the Ravens last season.

After a four-year stint with Baltimore, Jefferson most recently played with the Giants in 2022. In March 2023, he formally announced his retirement, prior to his most recent reversal of that decision.

The connections are obvious. Jefferson coming in for a rotational role on the Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz Chargers makes sense on paper. As previously mentioned, the connections with Hortiz go even further after Jefferson worked in the Ravens’ scouting department that he oversaw in 2024.

Prior to a potential Jefferson signing, the safety room is currently unproven in depth behind Derwin James and Alohi Gilman. AJ Finley and JT Woods are the Bolts’ third and fourth safeties on the depth chart. Finley spent most of 2023 between the practice squad, promotion, and full-time roster, while Woods missed a large portion of the season with an undisclosed illness. It’s safe to say the Chargers could use some depth at the position with two open roster spots left.

While other options like Quandre Diggs or Justin Simmons are on the market, it appears the Chargers are opting for a bit of organizational familiarity in addition to experience with Jefferson’s tryout. At age 32, he’ll attempt a career comeback that few former NFL players end up completing after unretiring.