Tony Jefferson, a former Oklahoma safety, has completed his comeback bid after joining the Chargers.
After taking a year off from football and even proclaiming his retirement from the NFL, Tony Jefferson’s comeback attempt might be considered successful. He has earned a position on the San Diego Chargers’ 53-man roster.
Jefferson, 32, worked last season as an intern in the Ravens’ scouting department. His return to the NFL symbolizes yet another remarkable story in his illustrious career.
Oklahoma fans will remember Jefferson as the ideal safety for Brent Venables’ defense and a member of the 2010 recruiting class.
A dozen years later, Venables is the head coach at Jefferson’s alma mater, and Jefferson continues to play football. Jefferson, a 4-star prospect, Army All-American, and California native, made a significant commitment to Oklahoma. It began a pattern of California commitments and opened up a Golden State pipeline, specifically Brennan Clay and Kenny Stills, who created the famed “Cali Trio.”
Interestingly, Oklahoma was not his original commitment. In another full circle experience for Jefferson, his initial visit and pledge came to Stanford, where Jim Harbaugh was coaching at the time. Stanford made sense for me as a Chula Vista, CA native who attended Eastlake High School. Of course, he eventually flipped his vow to Oklahoma, but Jefferson will now have the opportunity to hook up with Harbaugh after all. He’s the one who approved the 53-man roster, giving Jefferson another opportunity in the NBA.
His stats at Oklahoma would indicate that he made the right selection about where to play college football. Jefferson made 258 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight interceptions, and two fumbles during his three years at Oklahoma, two under Venables and one under Mike Stoops.
Jefferson went undrafted after three productive years at Oklahoma, but it’s no surprise he ended up in the NFL. He played four seasons in Arizona and four more in Baltimore before retiring with the New York Giants in 2022. Throughout his career, Jefferson made 492 total stops, 34 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and four interceptions. He logged 113 total games and 67 starts before retiring following the 2022 season.
Jefferson then spent the entire 2023 season not playing football at all.
His outstanding preseason performance this year was the cherry on top of his successful return to the NFL. In the Chargers’ final preseason game, he had 14 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defended, one sack, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hit. Throughout his career, Jefferson has been a Swiss Army Knife and a versatile athlete who can play any position.
Harbaugh, who first recruited Jefferson at Stanford and is now the Chargers’ head coach, described Jefferson’s last preseason effort as a “sensational game” that capped off an excellent summer.
“A sack, forced fumble, two interceptions, [14] tackles,” Harbaugh noted. “I’ve always had great respect for him, admiration for him and he played for my brother [in Baltimore] … it was great to see him do so well tonight.”
Jefferson’s preseason performance capped off an incredible summer of getting back into playing shape and showed he still has some gas in the tank. He demonstrated to himself and the Chargers that he still belongs in the NFL.
“It took me a second to get rolling and back into it from a physical standpoint,” Jefferson informed the crowd. “I’ve finally found my stride, and the trainers did an excellent job of caring for me last week.” “I was able to fly around today.”
The former Oklahoma standout has returned to the league for another season. Aside from assisting the Chargers in moving forward, he has little else to prove. Whether he’s a starter or merely a vocal leader in the locker room, he still has a place in the NFL and will add a seasoned presence to a young Chargers squad in transition.
“I still have more in the tank,” Jefferson, “and that I still have more to prove.”