The Los Angeles Chargers are making a significant addition to their coaching staff by hiring former NFL linebacker Sean Spence. This move comes after the departure of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who joined the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.
To fill the void left by Minter, the Chargers have turned to Chris O”Leary, a familiar figure from their 2024 coaching staff and the current defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. O”Leary, who has a history of working closely with Minter, previously served as the Chargers” safeties coach and has brought a successful defensive scheme from his time at Notre Dame.
During his tenure at Western Michigan, O”Leary dramatically improved the program”s defense, leading them to a top ten scoring defense and producing elite sack numbers. His success at Western Michigan during 2025 saw the Broncos finish fifth in the nation with 43 sacks, a remarkable turnaround from the previous year”s total of only 13.
As part of this coaching shakeup, Spence, who worked with O”Leary at Western Michigan, is expected to focus on coaching the edge rushers. He entered the coaching realm in 2023, starting as an analyst and later coaching linebackers before switching to edge rushers in 2025.
Spence was selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers after an impressive collegiate career at the University of Miami. He has also played for the Tennessee Titans and had a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts before concluding his playing career back with the Steelers in 2017.
Under Spence”s guidance, edge rusher Nadame Tucker blossomed during the 2025 season, transitioning from a minimal contributor at the University of Houston to a standout player at Western Michigan. Tucker”s performance earned him recognition, ranking second in the nation for sacks and solidifying his place in the upcoming NFL draft.
While the Chargers have yet to officially confirm Spence”s hiring or specify his role, the move reflects their commitment to strengthening their defensive unit in the wake of recent changes. As the offseason progresses, fans will be eager to see how these coaching adjustments will impact the Chargers” performance on the field.
