This past Sunday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Chargers are hiring former Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin to be their new assistant linebackers coach under Sean Spence. Martin has been with Pittsburgh under Mike Tomlin since the 2016 season and has worked with notable players such as T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig.
Under Martin, Watt was named a First-Team All-Pro selection four times, including during the 2021 season where Watt tied the previous all-time single-season sack record with 22.5. In 2023, Watt recorded 19 sacks and 19 tackles for loss which earned his latest nod to the first team.
After recorded just eight sacks in his first two seasons, Martin coached Highsmith to a career-high 14.5 sacks and five forced fumbles during the 2022 campaign.
This past season, Herbig recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss to go with an interception, three forced fumbles, and a fumble returned for a touchdown.
Martin played collegiately at the University of Missouri as a linebacker. He got his coaching career started as a graduate assistant in 2015 before earning an opportunity as a scouting assistant with the Steelers.