The Chargers are continuing to reshape their coaching staff, and the latest addition brings both NFL experience and a fresh coaching perspective. Jordan Schultz reports that Los Angeles is hiring Sean Spence as their new inside linebackers coach-a move that adds another former player with real on-field credentials to the mix.
Spence, 35, enters the role with a résumé that reflects both resilience and football IQ. Drafted by the Steelers in the third round back in 2012, Spence’s NFL journey was anything but smooth.
A devastating knee injury early in his career sidelined him for his first two seasons, casting doubt on whether he’d ever play again. But Spence didn’t just return-he carved out a respectable role in Pittsburgh’s linebacker rotation by 2014.
After his stint with the Steelers, Spence signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Titans, where he continued to show flashes of the playmaking ability that made him a top-100 draft pick. The Colts brought him in on a similar deal, but roster cuts saw him released before the regular season.
Indianapolis briefly re-signed him, only to part ways again shortly after. Spence eventually made his way back to Pittsburgh, where he wrapped up his playing career.
In total, Spence appeared in 23 NFL games across three teams-Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Indianapolis. He tallied 163 tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three pass deflections. Those numbers don’t just speak to his productivity-they show a player who understood the game from multiple angles and roles.
Coaching was the next chapter, and Spence made his debut on the sidelines in 2023 as a special teams analyst at Western Michigan. Over the past two seasons, he’s expanded his coaching responsibilities, working closely with linebackers and edge rushers. That hands-on experience, combined with his playing background, positions him well to connect with and develop the Chargers’ young linebacker corps.
For a team looking to build a tougher, more instinctive defense, Spence brings the kind of real-world insight that can’t be taught in a classroom. He’s been in the trenches.
He’s fought back from injury. And now, he’s bringing that perspective to a Chargers unit that could benefit from both his technical knowledge and his grit.
This hire may not make national headlines, but it’s the kind of foundational move that can quietly pay dividends. Spence knows what it takes to succeed in the league-and now he gets the chance to pass that on in Los Angeles.