Sean Spence is officially back in the NFL - this time, with a headset instead of shoulder pads. The former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker has been hired as the Los Angeles Chargers’ new inside linebackers coach, continuing a fast-rising coaching journey that’s seen him go from college analyst to NFL position coach in just three years.
Spence’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. Drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Miami, he came into the league with high expectations.
A rangy, instinctive linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed, Spence looked like a perfect fit for Pittsburgh’s tradition of hard-nosed, athletic defenders. But a devastating knee injury in the preseason of his rookie year put his career on hold before it could even begin.
He fought his way back, spending the next few seasons (2012-2015) as a rotational linebacker and special teams contributor in Pittsburgh. In 2016, he signed with the Tennessee Titans, and later had a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. That same year, injuries gutted the Steelers’ linebacker room - most notably the tragic spinal injury to Ryan Shazier - and Spence returned to Pittsburgh to help stabilize the unit during the playoff push.
While his playing career never fully hit the heights it once promised, Spence’s football mind never left the game. In 2023, he jumped into coaching as a special teams analyst at Western Michigan.
From there, things moved quickly. He became the Broncos’ linebackers coach in 2024, then shifted to coaching edge defenders in 2025.
That versatility - and his deep understanding of the linebacker position - clearly didn’t go unnoticed.
Now, Spence is reuniting with former Western Michigan defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, who recently joined the Chargers’ staff under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. O’Leary’s move to the NFL opened the door for Spence to make the jump as well, and it’s a natural fit. Coaching inside linebackers is right in Spence’s wheelhouse - it’s the position he played, studied, and now teaches.
This is more than just a promotion. It’s a full-circle moment for a player whose career was nearly cut short before it began. Spence knows what it takes to overcome adversity, to grind from the bottom, and to earn your spot - all traits that should resonate with the players he’ll now be coaching in Los Angeles.
The Chargers are betting on that experience, and on a young coach with a clear upward trajectory. Spence’s rise from college analyst to NFL position coach in just three seasons is no accident - it’s the product of football IQ, adaptability, and a relentless work ethic. Now, he gets to bring all of that to a Chargers defense looking for a fresh identity under Harbaugh.
For Spence, it’s another chapter in a football life that’s already had its fair share of twists. And if his coaching career follows the same arc of determination and growth as his playing days, the Chargers may have landed a rising star on their sideline.