Back in February, fresh off his first NFL season in nearly a decade, Jim Harbaugh stood on the red carpet at NFL Honors with that familiar Michigan-era smirk. “We’re gonna install the foundation first. Then the tower can rise,” he said. That wasn’t just a metaphor; it was a blueprint. And seven months after that, on a Thursday Night platform in Canton, Harbaugh’s Chargers defense not only appeared constructed. Indeed, it appeared purchased, starting at the top.

Chargers grizzled safety in his 12th season in the NFL, addressed when he talked with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche. He spoke after a 34–7 blowout of the Detroit Lions during the Hall of Fame Game. “Man, this opportunity—showing the young guys— really there’s a bunch of young guys in this game,” Tony Jefferson added. “I know how it is, being young, to come to your first NFL Hall of Fame Game and to see older guys who’ve been around for a bit.” He mentioned how fundamental principles have permeated the Chargers defense.

“We have pillars—particularly on the deep side of the room—on how we attack our defense. Tackling, the angles to the ball, the efforts… things kind of just went from practice field into the game,” he quipped. That transition from the practice field to a national showcase wasn’t accidental. Jefferson’s interception in the first half was just one of three turnovers forced by a defense playing with Harbaugh’s fingerprints all over it.

It was aggressive, opportunistic, and old-school discipline. “It was great, it was complimentary football. That’s just great continuation of what we’ve been doing through training camp,” Jefferson said, describing how the game opened with a turnover and continued to snowball. 

There’s background to that “continuation.” Since Jim Harbaugh accepted the job in 2024, the Chargers have revamped their quarterback corps. Philosophies of his defense he developed in championship years at the 49ers and Michigan, always prioritized physicality and takeaways. The Chargers’ defense of 2024 was 15th in takeaways but was susceptible to missed tackles and breakdowns down the stretch.

Harbaugh and DC Jesse Minter, another Michigan import, countered with a complete overhaul of the secondary mindset in OTAs. They did that with a relentless emphasis on angles, pursuit, and finishing. Tony Jefferson, signed by the team in June 2024 and who departed this spring after resigning, is now one of the key leaders making that vision a reality. In his own right, the 33-year-old safety demonstrated he still has burst. After returning midseason in 2024, the veteran safety contributed 27 tackles across eight games. Indeed, he offered steadiness and veteran poise down the stretch even without the flashy picks.

In 2025, his role is all the more significant: part teacher, part set-setter.

Bolts’ defensive depth sends a message in Canton

If Jim Harbaugh’s charge was to establish a defensive tone quickly in his Chargers’ career, Thursday night was an encouraging start. The Bolts overpowered Detroit from the start whistle, accumulating five takeaways and surrendering only one touchdown in a 34–7 destruction. Preseason wins tend to be empty calories, but the way the Los Angeles team won — with urgency, accuracy, and an extensive defensive rotation — had staying power.

They established the tone right away. Outside linebacker Caleb Murphy punched the ball free on the first play, recovered by safety Kendall Williamson. It wasn’t only the starting unit making plays, however. Rookie Nikko Reed‘s 60-yard interception return jump-started a touchdown, and veteran Tony Jefferson added a red-zone pick, displaying that he still possesses a nose for the ball. Even specialty units got into the act.

Trikweze Bridges created a muffed punt that resulted in points. Moreover, Myles Purchase ended the evening with his own statement turnover, pulling away a deep pass and sprinting 49 yards back. For a defense still finding its footing under first-year coordinator Jesse Minter, the early returns indicated cohesiveness and confidence.

What impressed most wasn’t so much the flashy plays. Indeed, it was the hustle throughout the roster. With a bunch of starters sidelined, Harbaugh’s reserves took the occasion as if it were a final showcase. Players like Reed, Williamson, and Purchase aren’t depth pieces; they’re making legitimate cases for spots when the actual games arrive. If Thursday was any sign, the Chargers won’t need to count on stars alone to flip momentum. They’ve got playmakers percolating everywhere on the depth chart.