Brendan Nugent enters his second season as the offensive line coach for the Chargers in 2023. In his first season with the Bolts, Nugent was key in the development of rookie offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, who was thrust in as the starting left tackle after an injury to All-Pro tackle Rashawn Slater.
In 2022, Nugent helped the Los Angeles offense rank third in passing offense (269.6 net passing yards per game) and No. 9 in total offense (359.3 total net yards per game) in the NFL. Under Nugent's tutelage, tackle Trey Pipkins III emerged as a starting-caliber right tackle despite dealing with injuries throughout the season. Nugent also instructed Salyer and tackle Foster Sarell to impress and put forth consistent performances in the first games of their NFL careers.
The line protected quarterback Justin Herbert to become the first player in history to top 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three seasons and join Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning as the only players to throw 25-plus touchdowns in three consecutive seasons to begin a career. The unit blocked for a rushing attack that ran for 238 yards in the Week 5 win against Cleveland, the best single-game production for a Bolts offense since 2018. That rushing attack featured running back Austin Ekeler, who led the NFL for the second-straight season with 18 scrimmage touchdowns and set single-season career highs with 1,637 yards from scrimmage, 13 rushing touchdowns, 915 rushing yards and 107 receptions. His 107 catches led all running backs ranked and tied for No. 5 in the NFL in 2022, and were tied for the second-most by a running back in a single season in NFL history.
Nugent came to the Chargers after spending seven seasons (2015-21) on the New Orleans offensive staff. He was an offensive assistant for two years (2015-16) and then the team's assistant offensive line coach from 2017-20 before taking over as the position coach in 2021. Over those five years working with the New Orleans line, the unit allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL (131) and featured 10 Pro Bowl selections. In 2020, Nugent helped coach the Saints to boast the sixth-ranked rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 141.6 yards per game on the ground. That season, New Orleans set a franchise record with a league-leading 30 rushing scores.
A native of White Plains, N.Y., Nugent played linebacker at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After his playing career for the Cardinal, he broke into coaching at his alma mater, Archbishop Stepinac High, tutoring the team's linebackers.
Nugent went on to spend two years as an offensive assistant at Iowa (2005-06), helping the Hawkeyes reach the 2005 Outback Bowl and 2006 Alamo Bowl during his tenure, while also earning his bachelor's degree in political science in 2006. He then coached at William & Mary from 2007-11. In his five years with the Tribe, he tutored the tight ends (2007, '09), wide receivers (2008) and running backs (2010-11).
Prior to joining the Saints, Nugent spent the 2012 season as a special teams assistant and offensive quality control coach on the staff of Marc Trestman with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes. That year, the Alouettes finished first in the CFL's East Division. Nugent then coached under Trestman as an offensive quality control coach with the Chicago Bears.
Nugent and his wife, Jenny, have four children — Addelynn, Declan, Maelie and Nolan.
