Reductive dehalogenases are responsible for the reductive cleavage of carbon-halogen bonds during organohalide respiration. A variety of mechanisms have been proposed for these cobalamin and [4Fe-4S] containing enzymes, including organocobalt, radical, or cobalt-halide adduct based catalysis. The latter was proposed for the oxygen-tolerant cataboli reductive dehalogenase (NpRdhA). Here, we present the first substrate bound NpRdhA crystal structures, confirming a direct cobalt-halogen interaction is established and providing a rationale for substrate preference. Product formation is observed due to X-ray photoreduction. Protein engineering enables rational alteration of substrate preference, providing a future blue print for the application of this and related enzymes in bioremediation.