Tony Jefferson is sticking in Los Angeles. The veteran safety is re-signing with the Chargers, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. It’s a one-year deal for Jefferson.
Jefferson announced his retirement following the 2022 season and quickly caught on with the Ravens scouting department. He spent a year in that role before reversing course and attempting a comeback. This signing will reunite Jefferson with Chargers GM Joe Hortiz, a former Ravens exec. Jefferson both played for the Ravens and spent a year on their scouting staff.
He ended up catching on with the Chargers, although he was stashed on the practice squad after not making the initial 53-man roster. He got into eight games (four starts), compiling 27 tackles. He also came up big in the playoffs, collecting three tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the Wild Card Round. For his efforts, Jefferson garnered a pair of Comeback Player of the Year votes.
After cutting his teeth in Arizona, Jefferson made a name for himself in Baltimore, where he started all 30 of his appearances between 2017 and 2018. A torn ACL ended his 2019 campaign early, and since sitting out the 2020 season, Jefferson has settled into more of a backup role with the 49ers, Ravens (second stint), and Giants.
Jefferson saw most of his work last season when Alohi Gilman was on IR, and the veteran stuck in the lineup when Elijah Molden went down with a season-ending injury. That duo (along with top safety Derwin James Jr.) will be back in 2025, so Jefferson will likely be competing for a back-of-the-depth-chart job come training camp.