Welcome to Part 10 of our 2024 positional recaps, a series that will run through the next few weeks and highlight 11 Chargers position groups. We'll focus on key stats, memorable moments and look to what lies ahead in 2025.
Outside of the building, one of the more under-the-radar position groups heading into the season was the defensive line.
But inside of it, there was a lot of buzz from coaches and players alike.
"I'm excited about that group," Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter said early in training camp. "I think it's a hungry [group]."
It proved to be for good reason, as the relatively unheralded unit was able to be productive and put together a strong season on the interior.
It began with the addition of veteran free agent Poona Ford, who thrived in the unit and put together arguably his best season as a pro.
Ford tied career high marks in tackles for loss (eight), quarterback hits (nine) and sacks (3.0) in 2024. He also set a new best with five passes defended as he was disruptive in both the run and the pass while playing the most snaps among the group.
After going through a tough season before, Ford bounced back in a massive way and was vital to the Chargers defensive success in 2024.
"It would never be about proving myself. I always knew what I could do," Ford said after the season. "Hopefully based off this year, kind of reestablish myself and showed people what I can do."
Ford walked into the defensive line room as one of the more experienced members along with Morgan Fox, who completed his third season in powder blue.
Fox continued to be a leader in the room and put together another impressive season leading the position group with 3.5 sacks, 14 run stops and 29 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
The group also got big contributions from younger players such as Otito Ogbonnia, who played and started in all 17 games after playing a combined 15 games his first two seasons in the league.
Ogbonnia finished the regular season with the second-most tackles among the Chargers defensive lineman behind Ford with 37.
Teair Tart also turned some heads with some disruptive plays throughout the season, as he would end up playing in all 17 games with five tackles for loss after being signed to the team in mid-August.
Meanwhile Scott Matlock also saw some run in spurts on defense, notching his first career sack while also playing a significant role on the other side of the ball as the team's starting fullback.
Rounding out the group was fourth-round pick Justin Eboigbe, who saw limited action in his rookie season.
While the group might not have made headlines heading into the season, the unit believed they turned some heads in 2024.
"Personally, I'm always a fan of when people write a team off or a defense or a unit off and say, 'Oh, they're not going to be good or we're going into a rebuild year or their D-line is unknown,'" Fox said after the season. "And I think we all played really well.
"We affected the run, affected the quarterback… I think we surprised a lot of people," Fox added.
Notable Number
Not only was Ford dependable for the Chargers, but he also played among the best in his position across the NFL.
The veteran defensive lineman finished the regular season with an 85.1 PFF defense grade, which ranked as the fifth-best among players at his position.
The grade was Ford's highest of his career in a season he played at least 400 snaps.
Memorable Moment
Ford gave the Chargers a glimpse of what was to come right from the jump in the team's season opening game.
On an afternoon where the defense was dominant and the veteran finished with three total tackles, one QB hit, one tackle for loss and two passes defensed, Ford stamped the victory with his first career interception.
Credit to Khalil Mack, who read Gardner Minshew's eyes perfectly and got up for the pass deflection, which gave Ford the ability to haul in the interception and slide to seal the victory.
And after the game, he wanted to set the record straight about going down after the interception.
"For the record, I did not get tackled," Ford said with a laugh after the Week 1 win. "I went down so we could secure the dub."
Ford's interception was the first by a defensive lineman at that point and he became just the second defensive lineman to have a tackle for loss, interception and multiple pass breakups in a single game since tackles for loss began being tracked in 2008.
The play capped off a statement opening win in Jim Harbaugh’s first game as the head coach and a sign of what the veteran defensive lineman would go on to provide the Bolts the rest of the season.
Regular-Season Stats
Poona Ford
Recorded 39 total tackles (24 solo), eight tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one interception, five passes defensed and nine QB hits; made 17 starts and played 604 defensive snaps (55.3 percent)
Morgan Fox
Recorded 27 total tackles (19 solo), four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass defended and six QB hits; played in 17 games (three starts) and played 577 defensive snaps (52.8 percent)
Otito Ogbonnia
Recorded 37 total tackles (14 solo), four tackles for loss and three QB hits; started in all 17 games and played 505 defensive snaps (46.2 percent)
Teair Tart
Recorded 29 total tackles (15 solo), five tackles for loss, a sack, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two passes defended and five QB hits; played in 17 games and played 348 defensive snaps (31.8 percent)
Scott Matlock
Recorded seven total tackles (two solo), a sack, one tackle for loss and one QB hit; played in all 17 games (11 starts) and played 137 defensive snaps (12.5 percent) and 362 offensive snaps (33.9 percent)
Justin Eboigbe
Recorded two total tackles (one solo); played in five games and played 26 defensive snaps (2.4 percent)
1 Question for 2025
Does Ford re-sign with the Chargers?
Like other key figures of the past Bolts season, Ford signed a 1-year deal in the offseason and is slated to hit free agency.
His presence and emergence played a big role on the interior of the defensive line and the unit as a whole, as he became a steady presence for Minter's defense.
Ford was thankful for his time in the powder blue and talked about wanting to return during locker room cleanouts, but added he'll wait and see how things play out.
"I would love that. I like it out here, it's great," Ford said after the season. "I love the coaches, the coaching staff, everybody on the team. We'll see where the chips fall."
He later added: "I'm going to focus on my training this offseason and everything will take care of itself."
Similar could be said about fellow players on the interior Fox and Tart, who are also slated to hit the market when the New League Year begins on March 12.
Ford, Fox and Tart accounted for three of the four players among the Chargers defensive line with the most snaps in 2024, so it will be a position to keep an eye on throughout the offseason.
