Denzel Martin Is The Kind of Unsung Hero The Chargers Need on Their Sidelines

As reported in the latest Chargers coaching staff shakeup, Denzel Martin is the new assistant outside linebackers coach. He is joining the Chargers after recently serving on the Pittsburgh staff since 2016, including being the Steelers' outside linebackers coach from 2023 to 2025. Martin had a lot to work with, inheriting a position group that featured T.J. Watt, but other players really took strides under his leadership. 

Some unheralded standouts featured on this unit, including some stellar performances this last season. Watt missed time with a punctured lung, so he did not have a full season's worth of stats, but was impactful as ever in his minutes on the field. He finished with 7 sacks, which is ho-hum for him, but again, consider the playing time. Alex Highsmith became a star under Martin. Compiling 14.5 sacks in a breakout 2022. This past season, he battled through injuries to lead the team with 9.5 sacks. If he played a full year, he would have easily eclipsed 10.

Nick Herbig came into his own this last year with a career milestone of 7.5 sacks and a total of 13 tackles for loss. Their rookie this past year, Jack Sawyer also got in on the party, recording 2 interceptions and 3 tackles for loss in limited time. While Martin won't be sticking around to see him develop, the Chargers can reap the benefits of getting him on their sidelines instead. He really built a solid rotation in the steel city. Of course, it was helped by having Cam Heyward in the middle of the defensive line, making everyone's job easier on the second level.

Off the strength of Martin's unit, the Steelers used a sixth-best total sack number to make up for other gaps in their defense this past season.

This productivity makes it seem like a steal to get Martin as an assistant outside linebackers coach as Jim Harbaugh continues to build out his impressive coaching staff. With pieces like Martin and most notably Mike McDaniel, who could have larger roles elsewhere, but are coming together to build a winner in Los Angeles. With the Super Bowl to be played in Los Angeles next year, the team is gearing up for a deep postseason run. They are loading up on both sides of the football.

If the team reaches its ultimate goal, unsung heroes like Martin who had an undeniable impact in Pittsburgh, will get their flowers as well.