Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin is set to join the Los Angeles Chargers as an assistant outside linebackers coach. The move, reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, marks Martin's first NFL role outside Pittsburgh after nearly a decade with the Steelers. He will work under Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh alongside a talented group of edge rushers.
Denzel Martin, who served as the Pittsburgh Steelers' outside linebackers coach from 2023 through the 2025 season, is joining the Los Angeles Chargers' staff, according to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz on February 15, 2026. Martin will take on the role of assistant outside linebackers coach, assisting Dylan Roney, who is entering his second year in the position after starting as a defensive assistant in 2024.
Martin joined the Steelers in 2016 as a scouting assistant and progressed through roles including coaching assistant in 2018 and assistant outside linebackers coach from 2020 to 2022. During his time in Pittsburgh, he coached prominent players such as T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, contributing to a strong pass-rush unit. Prior to his NFL coaching career, Martin played college football at the University of Missouri and served as a graduate assistant there from 2015 to 2016.
This hiring comes amid the Chargers building their defensive staff under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Martin had interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys' outside linebackers coach position earlier in the cycle but will now join a Chargers edge room featuring Khalil Mack, Bud Dupree (a former Steeler), Tuli Tuipulotu, and Odafe Oweh. Notably, Martin will reunite with former Steelers linebacker Sean Spence, whom the Chargers are hiring as their inside linebackers coach.
The Steelers, in response, have hired Texas Tech outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You to replace Martin. With this departure, only four coaches from Mike Tomlin's 2025 staff remain without reported new jobs: defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni, offensive assistant Mateo Kambui, and defensive quality control coach Jason Brooks.
Martin's move represents a significant step in his career, bringing his expertise in developing elite pass rushers to one of the NFL's more promising outside linebacker groups.
