Sean Spence
{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}}
{{about||the Australian rugby union player|Sean Spence (rugby union)}}
{{Distinguish|Sean Spencer (disambiguation){{!}}Sean Spencer|Shaun Spence|Sean Spicer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Sean Spence
| image = Sean Spence.JPG
| caption = Spence with the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2016
| current_team = Western Michigan Broncos
| number =
| position = Linebackers coach
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|6|7}}
| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 231
| high_school = Miami Northwestern
(Miami, Florida)
| college = Miami (FL)
| draftyear = 2012
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 86
| pastteams = * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2016}})
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2017}})
| pastcoaching = * Western Michigan (2023)
Special teams analyst
- Western Michigan (2024–present)
Linebackers coach
| highlights = * ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2008)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 163
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 6.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| pfr = SpenSe00
}}
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.[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/poll/2007-super25.htm Miami Northwestern crowned Super 25 champion] 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.[https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1831 Rivals.com outside linebackers 2008]
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,{{cite web | last=Cirminiello | first=Richard | title=2008 CFN All-Freshman Defensive Team | url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/820615.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214070249/http://cfn.scout.com/2/820615.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 14, 2008 | date=December 11, 2008 | work=College Football News }} as well as Rivals.com′s 2008 Freshman All-America team.{{cite web |title=Rivals.com 2008 Freshman All-America teams |url=http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=890291 |date=December 17, 2008 |work=Rivals.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604224114/http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=890291 |archivedate=June 4, 2009 }}
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
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11
| weight = 231
| dash = 4.71
| ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.70
| shuttle = 4.28
| cone drill = 7.46
| vertical = 33½
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 11
| bench = 12
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 31½
| hand span = 9¼
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web| title=NFL Draft Profile: Sean Spence| url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/sean-spence?id=2532952| accessdate=January 14, 2018| website=NFL.com}}
}}
=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.{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On May 29, 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Spence to a four-year, $2.70 million contract.{{cite web| title=Spotrac.com: Sean Spence contract| url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/sean-spence-9896/| accessdate=January 14, 2018| website=Spotrac.com}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-Make-Roster-Moves-Trim-Roster-to-75/c0eded43-be8e-4999-aa45-ec3b5f48e11e |title=Steelers Make Roster Moves; Trim Roster to 75 |date=August 25, 2013 |website=Steelers.com |accessdate=August 26, 2013 |archive-date=August 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826231544/http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-Make-Roster-Moves-Trim-Roster-to-75/c0eded43-be8e-4999-aa45-ec3b5f48e11e |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Pittsburgh Steelers May Activate Sean Spence from PUP After Week 6 Match-Up|url=http://www.sportsmedia101.com/pittsburghsteelers/2013/10/12/pittsburgh-steelers-may-activate-sean-spence-from-pup-after-week-6-match-up/}}
Three weeks after being taken off of the PUP list, the Steelers placed Spence on injured reserve, ending his injury-ridden 2013 season.{{cite web|title=Pittsburgh Steelers Place Linebacker Sean Spence on Injured Reserve|url=http://www.sportsmedia101.com/pittsburghsteelers/2013/11/06/pittsburgh-steelers-place-linebacker-sean-spence-on-injured-reserve/}} 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.[http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/sean-spence/be819128-6117-419b-8586-f0c71facd389/ Sean Spence Steelers page]
=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.[http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Agree-to-Terms-with-LB-Sean-Spence/3ca7e9fd-319c-416e-a048-305466109790 Titans agree to terms with LB Sean Spence] 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.{{cite web|title=Colts agree to one-year deal with LB Sean Spence|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sean-spence-signs-contract-with-indianapolis-colts-0ap3000000793880|author=Shook, Nick|website=NFL.com|date=March 19, 2017}} On September 2, 2017, the Colts released Spence as part of the final roster cuts.{{cite web|last1=Patra|first1=Kevin|title=Indianapolis Colts cut linebacker Sean Spence|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/indianapolis-colts-cut-linebacker-sean-spence-0ap3000000838733|website=NFL.com|date=September 2, 2017}} He was re-signed on September 13, 2017.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Colts Sign LB-Sean Spence, Place T/G Denzelle Good on Injured Reserve List|url=https://www.colts.com/news/roster-moves-colts-sign-lb-sean-spence-place-t-g-denzelle-good-on-injur-19364053|website=Colts.com|date=September 13, 2017}} He was released again on October 3, 2017.{{cite web|title=Colts Sign OL Kalis, Person; Place Bond On IR|url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Sign-OL-Kalis-Person-Place-Bond-On-IR/ef895438-5ef6-415b-b08e-5935dc7c61d0|website=Colts.com|date=October 3, 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109160355/http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Sign-OL-Kalis-Person-Place-Bond-On-IR/ef895438-5ef6-415b-b08e-5935dc7c61d0|archivedate=November 9, 2017}}
=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.{{cite web|title=Steelers bring back Spence|url=http://www.steelers.com/news/transactions/article-4/Steelers-bring-back-Spence/35e2b8d9-c643-4b5e-9beb-1a7c41112021|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=December 6, 2017}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| 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 | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2" | 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 | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 53 | 23 | 163 | 111 | 52 | 6.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
=Playoffs=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| 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 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/sean-spence?id=2532952 NFL Combine bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090804131031/http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/spence_sean00.html Miami Hurricanes bio]
{{Steelers2012DraftPicks}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Sean}}
Category:2011 University of Miami athletics scandal
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Indianapolis Colts players
Category:Miami Hurricanes football players
Category:Miami Northwestern Senior High School alumni
Category:Players of American football from Miami
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players