If it seems like Derwin James, Jr. is enjoying himself this season — more than he ever has in his career — that's because he is.
"Yes, [this has been] the most fun [season]," James told Chargers.com. "I'm having a lot of fun every day."
James' joy has been noticeable everywhere.
It's been on the field making plays.
It's been on the sideline interacting with his teammates and coaches.
And it's even been something minute such as walking back to his locker after practice.
When one day ends, he's already looking forward to the next.
"Even right now, I can't wait to come to work tomorrow," James added. "I'm having that much fun and it's exciting."
James later added: "The coaches, the players that are here, everybody is bought in. Bought in to what we're building every day. It's just everybody."
The way he's approached everything about this season has been noticeable to everyone in the building and who's watched the Bolts this year.
"I think everybody sees it," Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said about James earlier this month. "I'm sure everybody that tunes in on the television or go to the games, how could you not. It's just infectious."
He later added: "Derwin James is a huge reason why our fanbase is believing in this team as well."
This year's Chargers are reaping the benefits of what's been a bounce back season for the veteran now in his seventh season.
James is in the midst of one of his best seasons in recent years and the leading man in what has been one of the NFL's best defenses.
He ranks second on the team in snaps (842), tackles (83) and tackles for loss (seven) despite missing a game earlier in the season. James has also been disruptive with 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed and an interception.
James also ranks in the Top 10 in Pro Football Focus' defense (79.1), run defense (84.7), tackling (85.9) and pass rush grade (73.7) among safeties with at least 500 snaps this year. His run defense and tackling grade would be the highest of his career, while his defense grade would be his highest since 2019.
He's everything and more for the Chargers defense in 2024.
"To me, he's like the head of the snake," Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter said. "He drives everything with his mindset, his approach.
"He's willing to line up anywhere we ask and attack it with a crazy amount of focus and detail and competitiveness and spirit," Minter added.
Chargers safeties coach Chris O’Leary added: "Elite. That's just the word that comes to mind. Elite person, elite competitor, elite football player… He's the best I've been around."
Those who have watched James over the years know he can do a little bit of everything on the field.
James has spent most of his time at slot corner this season, logging 326 snaps there.
But he's also had 242 snaps inside the box and 190 at free safety as well.
He's thriving in his role, which changes based on the opponent, and gave the praise to Minter and his defense that's allowed him to impact the games the way he has this season.
"He's letting everybody see that I could be explosive," James said. "Letting everybody see that I'm still the same player and I feel like he's doing a great job with that. I'm playing fast, we got one of the top defenses. Just want to keep going."
James later added: "He allows me to play free, not think, not overthink, not try to solve every problem, play fast."
Harbaugh gave his own analogy of what James is able to do on the field.
"Just consistently a great player in any situation you put him in, any position you put him," Harbaugh said. "His flexibility, he is off the charts. And then he grades out right around that A, A+ category every single game.
"Plus, what he brings in terms of leadership to the team. It's at the elite level," continued.
Harbaugh later added in early December: "He's like Willie Mays. A five-tool plus player that can do it all."
This bounce back season from James had been brewing all offseason.
James has spoken at length about his performance last season and how it wasn't up to par with his expectations.
Fast forward to present day, the work he put in throughout the offseason has translated into one of his best seasons in years.
"Not that I needed any motivation, but motivation to know that I'm doing the right work to get to the right spot," James said. "Because sometimes you can just work and you're not getting nowhere. You're working and you're in the same spot.
"Now, I can see my purpose as a leader, I see my purpose as everything with these coaches that we have," James added. "It's just been a lot of fun."
One of the reasons James says he's played the way he has?
Harbaugh.
"It's been amazing. I strive every day to be just like him," James said about Harbaugh. "He's one of a kind.
"I can give a book of great things to say about him," James added.
From the moment Harbaugh arrived in Los Angeles, the star safety was a player he would often bring up.
Whether it's comparisons to all-time great athletes or just high praise he's heard all of it, and it's something that has motivated James even more to prove him right.
"I don't take it lightly, I take it with honor," James said. "It makes me want to work harder and just uphold that standard because I know someone speaks so highly of me and thinks so highly of me, so I never want to let them down.
"I want to make sure I'm doing my part of it," James added.
One of the things James credits Harbaugh with is present in the team's 8-6 record.
With the type of players the Bolts have, James included, the safety believes having Harbaugh and his staff has unlocked something within the franchise.
It was a match that James feels like couldn't have been any better, and it's showing why on the field.
"I feel like it was a perfect fit," James said. "I think Coach Harbaugh showed us how to work. We knew the work, the group we had always worked hard. But we just didn't know how to work.
"I feel like what Coach Harbaugh did was he came in and showed us how to work and how to lead," James added.
Of course, it's hard to talk about the safety's play and what it's meant for the Bolts without mentioning the leadership aspect that has become well-connected to his name.
James' leadership has been well-regarded throughout his entire career and has become a staple of the type of player he's become.
But the veteran felt like this year that would need to be turned up a notch.
With the roster in turnover and a lot of new faces on the field and in the coaching staff, James took it upon himself to be a connecting voice among those in the locker room.
"I definitely felt like my leadership role needed to step up," James said. "It was a new scheme, new coaches, some of the old guys didn't know any of the coaches so they didn't know how guys wanted to be coached.
"Everything hand in hand, I just feel like it all happened how it was supposed to happen," James added.
It's felt throughout the entire defense but sticks out for the number of younger players who have assumed a big role as well.
James has been vital for them no matter what their role on the team.
"Derwin is one of the best leaders I've been around," linebacker Daiyan Henley said. "He's good at adapting to the crowd. I think that's something not a lot of leaders can do.
"He knows who he's talking to, when he's talking to them and he's able to adjust his message to fit that person and get the best out of him," Henley continued. "He never takes a day off; he never takes a moment off. He's always a leader. I think he takes that very seriously."
Henley later added: "That's who Derwin is … always trying to look for ways to improve the people around him."
The work isn't done yet in that aspect for him just yet, either.
He continues to try and find different manners in which he could be even better.
"I see myself grow every day as a leader," James said. "And I'm still finding new ways how to become a great leader, just watching the leaders in Coach Harbaugh, Coach Minter, some of the players we have like Khalil [Mack].
"Just watching those guys," James added. "I'm trying to implement the stuff they do and try to do it in my own way."
Now, James and the Chargers are hopefully playing themselves into January.
Heading into a big division matchup on Thursday Night Football, James is on the cusp of the third postseason appearance of his career.
But there's a lot more work left to be done before he can get back there.
In the final three weeks of the regular season, all James is focused on is not letting up one bit and continue the trajectory they've been on.
"Finish the games we have guaranteed," James said. "Good, bad, we try to keep the same mindset.
"As a defense, when you continue to do that, put your head down and work, you like what you see in the end," James added.
Whatever happens with the Chargers in the final three weeks on the schedule — and potentially beyond — chances are James will be at the forefront of it all leading the way.
And he has all the confidence in the world in those around him.
"Confident. I feel confident," James said. "The team I have, the coaches I have, the players I have going in with me heading into the playoffs, I feel like we're confident.
James added: "We got [three] more games and I can't wait to look up at the end of the season when it's all over."
