Former Miami Hurricanes LB joins Los Angeles Chargers coaching staff

The Los Angeles Chargers have finalized the hiring of Sean Spence, Western Michigan's defensive ends coach/pass rush specialist. Spence is being hired as the Chargers’ inside linebackers coach.

Former Miami linebacker Sean Spence headed to Chargers staff

Spence was productive at Miami, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman in 2008 before becoming a first-team All-ACC selection later in his career.

Spence, a Miami native, played at Miami from 2008-11. His freshman season included 65 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss, plus an interception return for a touchdown against Florida State.

He then added 36 tackles and 6.5 TFL in 2009 despite missing time late in the season. Spence exploded in 2010 with 111 tackles and 16 TFL, then capped his career as a team captain in 2011 with 106 tackles and 14 TFL.

He went on to an NFL career that began when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the third round (No. 86 overall) in 2012. In the NFL, Spence played 53 games and totaled 154 tackles with 6 sacks across stops with the Steelers, Titans and Colts. His best seasons came in 2014 with Pittsburgh (51 tackles, 1 sack in 16 games) and in 2016 with Tennessee (51 tackles, 3 sacks in 15 games).

Spence's move to the Chargers' defensive coaching staff is a reunion. New defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary came from Western Michigan. The Chargers agreed to terms with O'Leary late last month. He replaces Jesse Minter, who left to become the Baltimore Ravens' head coach. Western Michigan went 10-4 in 2025 and ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense at 17.4 points per game under O'Leary.

That unit featured Nadame Tucker, who finished 2025 with 14.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss and was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year.