Sean Spence

For the Australian rugby union player, see Sean Spence (rugby union).
Not to be confused with Sean Spencer, Shaun Spence, or Sean Spicer.

Sean Spence
refer to caption
Spence with the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2016
Western Michigan Broncos
Position:Linebackers coach
Personal information
Born: (1990-06-07) June 7, 1990 (age 34)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:Miami Northwestern
(Miami, Florida)
College:Miami (FL)
NFL draft:2012 / round: 3 / pick: 86
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
  • Western Michigan (2023)
    Special teams analyst
  • Western Michigan (2024–present)
    Linebackers coach
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:163
Sacks:6.0
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Sean Ryan Christopher Spence (born June 7, 1990) is an American college football coach and former professional linebacker. He is the linebackers coach for Western Michigan University, a position he has held since 2024. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Miami, where he was named 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year. Spence was also a member of the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts.

Early life

At Miami Northwestern High School, Spence was part of the 2007 national championship team as chosen by USA Today.[1] His teammates included Lavonte David, Marcus Forston, Jacory Harris, Tommy Streeter, and Brandon Washington. As a senior, made more than 100 tackles, with three quarterback sacks, two interceptions (one for a TD). As a junior in 2006, made 147 tackles, 10 for losses, with two interceptions (one for a touchdown) and three sacks.

Spence played in the inaugural Under Armour All-America Game. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Spence was listed as the No. 13 outside linebacker in the nation.[2]

College career

Playing as a true freshman, Spence was a starter in the University of Miami's final eight games, and ranked third on the team with 62 tackles to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks. He was named to College Football News′ All-Freshman first team,[3] as well as Rivals.com′s 2008 Freshman All-America team.[4]

Four weeks into the 2010 season, Spence had team-highs in tackles (38) and tackles for loss (6.5) in only four games. At the end of the 2011 season, Spence earned first-team All-ACC recognition for the 2011 season. The senior captain, who tied for fifth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 106 total tackles in 2011, ended the year second among all NCAA players with 47 career tackles for loss, including 14.0 in 2011. A semifinalist for the Butkus Award, Spence averaged 9.64 tackles per game (fourth in conference) and 1.27 tackles for loss per game (third in conference) in 2011. He finished the season with three sacks, one pass break-up and one forced fumble.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11 in
(1.80 m) 		231 lb
(105 kg) 		31+1⁄2 in
(0.80 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.71 s 1.63 s 2.70 s 4.28 s 7.46 s 33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		 12 reps
All values from NFL Combine[5]

Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint)

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Spence in the third round (86th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. He was the 11th linebacker selected in 2012.[6]

On May 29, 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Spence to a four-year, $2.70 million contract.[7]

He suffered a serious knee injury during the preseason and was declared out for the entire 2012 season. On August 25, 2013, the Steelers placed Spence on the Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) List.[8][9] Three weeks after being taken off of the PUP list, the Steelers placed Spence on injured reserve, ending his injury-ridden 2013 season.[10] Sean Spence finished the 2014 season with 53 tackles and 1 sack for the Steelers, finishing with a record of 11–5 and winning the AFC North Division. Spence, who missed one game and didn't finish two due to hamstring injuries, had 37 tackles and a sack as the Steelers completed the 2015 regular season with a 10–6 mark. The Steelers won their first round playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals before dropping the next to Denver.[11]

Tennessee Titans

On March 16, 2016, the Tennessee Titans signed Spence to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, reuniting him with former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.[12] Spence finished the 2016 season with 50 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

Indianapolis Colts

On March 19, 2017, Spence signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts.[13] On September 2, 2017, the Colts released Spence as part of the final roster cuts.[14] He was re-signed on September 13, 2017.[15] He was released again on October 3, 2017.[16]

Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)

On December 5, 2017, the Steelers signed Spence to a one-year, $775,000 contract after injuries to Ryan Shazier and Tyler Matakevich.[17]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2014 PIT 16 9 53 34 19 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
2015 PIT 15 4 37 29 8 1.0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016 TEN 15 6 54 37 17 3.0 2 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0
2017 IND 3 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PIT 4 4 19 11 8 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
53 23 163 111 52 6.0 10 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 0 0

Playoffs

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2014 PIT 1 1 2 1 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2015 PIT 2 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017 PIT 1 1 5 3 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 2 7 4 3 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ Miami Northwestern crowned Super 25 champion
  2. ^ Rivals.com outside linebackers 2008
  3. ^ Cirminiello, Richard (December 11, 2008). "2008 CFN All-Freshman Defensive Team". College Football News. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008.
  4. ^ "Rivals.com 2008 Freshman All-America teams". Rivals.com. December 17, 2008. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009.
  5. ^ "NFL Draft Profile: Sean Spence". NFL.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  6. ^ "2012 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "Spotrac.com: Sean Spence contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  8. ^ "Steelers Make Roster Moves; Trim Roster to 75". Steelers.com. August 25, 2013. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  9. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers May Activate Sean Spence from PUP After Week 6 Match-Up".
  10. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers Place Linebacker Sean Spence on Injured Reserve".
  11. ^ Sean Spence Steelers page
  12. ^ Titans agree to terms with LB Sean Spence
  13. ^ Shook, Nick (March 19, 2017). "Colts agree to one-year deal with LB Sean Spence". NFL.com.
  14. ^ Patra, Kevin (September 2, 2017). "Indianapolis Colts cut linebacker Sean Spence". NFL.com.
  15. ^ "Roster Moves: Colts Sign LB-Sean Spence, Place T/G Denzelle Good on Injured Reserve List". Colts.com. September 13, 2017.
  16. ^ "Colts Sign OL Kalis, Person; Place Bond On IR". Colts.com. October 3, 2017. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.
  17. ^ Varley, Teresa (December 6, 2017). "Steelers bring back Spence". Steelers.com.