The Los Angeles Chargers signed tight end Will Dissly to a multi-year contract.
Dissly comes to Los Angeles after spending six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He started 65-of-72 career regular-season games, hauling in 127 receptions for 1,421 yards (11.2 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. Dissly saw the most action of his career in 2022, where he started all 15 games played and set career highs with 34 receptions and 349 yards, adding three touchdown grabs. He started 55-of-62 games at tight end over the last four seasons and was a key contributor as a blocker in the run game, helping the Seahawks to a postseason berth in 2022 and paving the way for running back Kenneth Walker III to total over 900 yards and eight touchdowns in each the last two years.
A native of Bozeman, Mont., Dissly played collegiately at the University of Washington. He began his Huskies career as a defensive end before switching to tight end for his final two seasons. On offense, Dissly started 16-of-27 games played, hauling in 25 passes for 336 yards (13.4 avg.) and three touchdowns. Defensively, he appeared in 19 games and made a start, recording 10 tackles (seven solo), a sack, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Dissly was the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Montana as a senior at Bozeman (Mont.) High, earning Parade honorable mention All-America recognition.
“I think it would be wrong for me to not appreciate where I came from. A kid from Bozeman, Montana. I’m grateful for [former University of Washington Head Coach] Chris Petersen to give me a shot to play at the University of Washington. Giving me the gift of introspection to just take a look at who I am and who I want to be. I’m grateful for [Seahawks President of Football Operations/General Manager] John Schneider and [former Seahawks Head Coach] Pete Carroll for giving me a shot to play in the NFL, really. I never take it for granted, not one day. I love playing football. I spent 10 years in Seattle. I just want to let those people know how much I appreciate them. All of the love and support from the fans to the equipment staff, my guys. I’m grateful for them. I’m grateful for that time, but I’m also excited to be a Charger. I’m grateful for [General Manager] Joe [Hortiz] and [Executive Vice President of Football Administration/Player Finance] for believing in me. I’m excited to get to work.”
On signing with the Chargers:
“It’s an opportunity. A new adventure, you know? I’m familiar with where we’re moving. I’m not quite there yet, but El Segundo is going to be an awesome place to spend time. Hopefully if I wear sunscreen appropriately, I’ll get a small tan [laughter] and play some smashmouth football. Getting to know the coaching staff, [Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach] Andy Bischoff and [Offensive Coordinator] Greg [Roman] and kind of the plans that we have. An attitude-based organization. We’re going to play some good football. I’m excited to be part of it.”
On his first interaction with Head Coach Jim Harbaugh:
“Well, I had just gotten off the plane and they had just gone through a couple of days of free agency, so we were all a little gassed. We did some small talk. The most exciting part about that conversation was his rig. He’s parked an RV down by the beach and I go, ‘Man, I respect the heck out of that,’ because I looked at the rent prices and I’m not stoked. He’s a good guy. I’m excited to get to know him as a person. I’m excited to see what his organization is really like. I played with [Seahawks C] Olu [Oluwatimi], who came from Michigan and said nothing but good things about Jim. I’m excited.”
On any background with the coaches:
“Yeah, so [Wide Receivers Coach] Sanjay [Lal], the wide receivers coach, came from Seattle. Funnily enough, Sanjay used to ride in the back of the bus with the guys, so I know him very well. Awesome dude. Really intelligent guy. Very detail-oriented football coach. If Jim is hiring guys like Sanjay, I can only imagine what the rest of the crew looks like. That was kind of my first in to becoming a Charger, was Sanjay.”
On if he knows QB Justin Herbert:
“No, but his brother played at Montana State, so I kind of know the family. All I know is that they’re crazy smart, like doctors, biologists. [He was] a biology major. I think he was like a 4.0 [GPA] biology guy at Oregon. We had one run-in. I’ll let the dog [Huskies] fans tell you how that went.
“I don’t know if the number 70 means anything to you. We broke the streak. It was probably one of my favorite days in my entire life. We broke the streak. [Washington] beat Oregon, finally. We hung 70 on them. I’m not ashamed to say that [laughter]. It was a pretty fun day. Now, we’re teammates, so we’ll let college be in the past.”
On an ‘attitude-based offense’:
“Just getting to know [Offensive Coordaintor] Greg [Roman] — confidnece, first and foremost. I think being who we are, you know, an LA-based team, we need to go into every [stadium] saying that we’re going to be competing to win. We’re not some team trying to appease a TV market. We’re here to win championships. That’s going to be the mindset from the top-down. I’m excited for that.”
On his personality:
“My nickname is Uncle Will. I just try and take care of anyone by helping them out, whether it’s a couch to crash on or a life lesson because they just broke up with the girlfriend. I’m always here for you guys. That’s first and foremost. Then, I don’t know if you can get the jist of this, but I’m kind of a jokester. I keep it light. I love playing football. I love the people that I’ve met. I don’t think life is worth anything without the people that you interact with. That’s kind of who I am, just a guy that’s willing to help, willing to work and going to keep it light at the same time.”
On familiarity with El Segundo:
“I kind of bopped around. The best advice I got was to find a place you want to retire, so I was like, ‘Oh, where are the coolest spots in America? Nashville. Scottsdale. El Segundo right on the beach.’ I’ve gotten to know it. Montana boy didn’t want to be a Californian, but I guess if they’re paying my bills, I’ll definitely go to work for them.”
On Head Coach Jim Harbaugh’s RV:
“I don’t think I’m supposed to disclosed where he’s parked. I think he’s waiting, probably until we move, to settle into a real house. Like I said, I respect the RV game heavy.”
On the Chargers:
“Honestly, in this profession, players come and go, right? Trying to like nail down an organization that’s like, ‘Man look at that roster.’ That’s really hard to do. I saw a new coaching staff, a new energy and an opportunity to build something. That’s really what I was excited for. At the end of the day, I’m just grateful to be playing a game that I love.”
On his playstyle:
“It sounds like you’re writing that article already [laughter]. I mean, listen, I would like to bring the position blocking or catching. It doesn’t really matter. The game is evolving. You can see the younger generations are falling in love with 7-on-7 and passing camps. That’s certainly not where I came from, right? You have to put in the work. I kind of look at it like basketball. You set a screen to get the pass for the layup. You have to put a little work in to get the reward. I’ve never been afraid of hard work. If they ask me to go put a hat on someone, I’m going to do it, but if they ask me to run a seam-route, I’m going to do it and I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what I do. As long as we’re winning games, that’s what I’m here for.”
On being from Bozeman shaping his playstyle:
“I mean, I’m definitely proud of where I come from. I had an opportunity to leave the state and play football in Washington. I didn’t take coming from Montana lightly. I definitely wanted to put my best foot forward because there’s not a lot of us out there playing this game. If someone is going to say, ‘Hey, look. I have a kid from Montana.’ I want to make sure I’m doing my best. It’s definitely a hard-working, blue-collar town, but we also support one another. I’ve felt nothing but love for where I come from. I’m just grateful.”
On his blocking abilities:
“Part of my background is that I played defensive line at Washington for two years and then transitioned to play tight end. I think, if you were going to writer your article, it would say, ‘Will is not afraid of contact,’ because I played defense. I’m looking to hit people. That’s part of the game, right? That’s why 7-on-7 ain’t a thing and real football is real football. Just trying to bring physicality. Like I said, I’m a guy that wants to help people. When I sacrifice and I put my hat on another hat — we just picked up [RB] Gus [Edwards], I’m working for Gus. I’m not working for me. It’s way easier for me to go out there and play at a hard level for someone else than it is just for personal gain, I guess, is the way I kind of approach my style.”
On signing to Chargers:
“I’m just grateful, really. To have these guys have the belief [in me] and have an opportunity to help them build. I’m excited to get to work. I’m grateful for an opportunity to keep doing the thing I love, which is play football.”
