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Report: Giants Hire Sean Spencer to Be Their Defensive Line Coach

Joe Judge's initial Giants coaching staff is just about complete.
Patricia Traina|
Report: Giants Hire Sean Spencer to Be Their Defensive Line Coach
Report: Giants Hire Sean Spencer to Be Their Defensive Line Coach

The Giants have reportedly added one of the last significant pieces of their assistant coaching staff puzzle.

According to Jon Sauber of Centre Daily, Penn State Associate Head Coach/Running Game Coordinator, and Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer has been hired to be the new defensive line coach on head coach Joe Judge's Giants staff.  

Spencer, nicknamed "Coach Chaos," is a former college free safety, having played with Clarion for three seasons and earning a place on the 1992 Division II Preseason All-America team by The Sporting News.

The 49-year-old Spencer went to high school with Eric Mangini, a former NFL coach who had a brief stint as head coach of the Jets and Browns, after serving as a defensive assistant with the Patriots.

Early in his coaching career, Spencer worked with the offensive skill position players, specifically tight ends and running backs. He switched to the defensive side of the ball while at Trinity College in 2000, making stops at UMass, Holy Cross, Villanova, Hofstra, Bowling Green, Vanderbilt and Penn State.

Under Spencer's guidance, the Nittany Lions posted four-straight 40-sack seasons (2015-18), the first such streak for the Nittany Lions since team sacks were recorded in 1988. In 2018, the defense led the country in sacks (3.62 per game) for the second time in the last four years and was ranked fourth in tackles for loss (8.2 per game).

Among Spencer's former student-athletes who went on to the NFL include Shareef Miller (Eagles), Kevin Givens (49ers), Curtis Cothran (Vikings), Carl Nassib (Bucs), Austin Johnson (Titans), Anthony Zettel (Browns), Adam Butler (Patriots), and Stephen Weatherly (Vikings).

The Giants are Spencer's first NFL coaching assignment. He had been with Penn State since 2014.

The Giants Assistant Coaching Staff: What We Know

Offensive Coordinator: Jason Garrett
Quarterbacks: Jerry Schuplinski
Running Backs: Burton Burns
Tight Ends: Freddie Kitchens
Receivers: Tyke Tolbert
Offensive Line: Marc Columbo
Assistant Offensive Line: Ben Wilkerson
Reported: Derek Dooley (role not yet indicated)

Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach: Patrick Graham
Defensive Line: Sean Spencer
Outside Linebackers/Senior Assistant: Bret Bielema
Inside Linebackers: Kevin Sherrer (reported)
Defensive Backs: Jerome Henderson
Defensive Assistant: Jody Wright

Special Teams Coordinator: Thomas McGaughey
Special Teams Assistant: Tom Quinn (implied by the team)

Strength and Conditioning: Aaron Wellman (reported)
Assistant Strength and Conditioning/Performance Manager: Sam Hoad (reported)

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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