Chargers Coaches | Los Angeles Chargers - chargers.com

John Timu, a former linebacker for the Chicago Bears, joins the Chargers staff as the Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellow after two seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Washington. He is reunited with Los Angeles Head Coach Brandon Staley, who he played for in 2017 when Staley was a member of the Chicago Bears' defensive coaching staff.

John Timu, a former linebacker for the Chicago Bears, joins the Chargers staff as the Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellow after two seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Washington. He is reunited with Los Angeles Head Coach Brandon Staley, who he played for in 2017 when Staley was a member of the Chicago Bears' defensive coaching staff.

While serving as a graduate assistant with the Huskies the past two seasons, Timu mainly worked to help the defensive staff develop the linebacker position. In a condensed 2020 season, Washington finished the season as Pacific-12 Conference North Division Champions. In his first season returning to the Pacific Northwest, Washington finished with an 8-5 record, capping the campaign by beating Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Timu played three seasons (2015-17) in Chicago, logging 29 career games played and nine starts at linebacker. In a 2015 win at Tampa Bay, he had six tackles and recovered two fumbles, becoming the first Bears defender to record multiple fumble recoveries in a single game since 2012.

After being waived during final roster cuts prior to the 2018 season, Timu signed with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football in early 2019.

A three-year starting linebacker at Washington, Timu was named honorable mention All-Pac-12 following his senior season in 2014 when he led the Huskies with 108 total tackles, while adding 10 passes defensed and two interceptions, including one he returned 63 yards for a touchdown.

Timu, a native of nearby Long Beach, Calif., and his wife, Amanda, have two sons.