Steve Spagnuolo has established himself as one of the best defensive coordinators in NFL history, picking up a fourth Super Bowl championship as an assistant Sunday night. Still off the HC radar, the Chiefs will take advantage.
The two-time reigning champions are giving Spagnuolo an extension, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Spagnuolo’s defense played a bigger role in helping the Chiefs rally to another championship. With Kansas City’s offense experiencing several speedbumps this season, the team depended on its defense. Spagnuolo will continue to lead that unit for the foreseeable future.
Spagnuolo, 64, coached in Super Bowl LVIII on an expiring contract, according to Rapoport. The former Rams HC has been in place under Andy Reid since 2019. That tenure resulted in the Chiefs elevating their defensive profile. Kansas City giving Patrick Mahomes a sturdy defensive safety net has allowed for the game’s premier active player to lead the team to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. After a woeful tenure as a head coach in St. Louis, Spags’ tenure in western Missouri has bolstered his reputation as well.
Reid brought in Spagnuolo following the Chiefs’ shootout loss in the 2018 AFC championship game. Mahomes’ best statistical season ended with the quarterback on the sideline as the Patriots marched down for a game-winning touchdown in overtime. The Chiefs then fired six-year DC Bob Sutton and brought in Spagnuolo, who has regularly had his defense in top form late in the season.
This year brought Spagnuolo’s best work with the Chiefs. Although this success did not result in Tony Romo learning the correct pronunciation of the veteran assistant’s name, Spagnuolo’s defense ranked second in scoring and total yardage this season. An inconsistent Chiefs offense benefited from the team’s best defensive effort since perhaps the Derrick Thomas era.
While Spagnuolo has said on a few occasions he would pursue another HC job, that has not been in the cards. No team has requested an interview during Spagnuolo’s Chiefs years. The Rams hired the Super Bowl-winning Giants DC in 2009, but their modern-era nadir occurred soon after. In place as Rams HC for three seasons, Spagnuolo submitted 1-15 and 2-14 seasons in that span. A 7-9 slate ensued in between, but the Rams had seen enough by the end of the 2011 slate. Spagnuolo, who won his first ring as part of the 2007 Giants, returned to the DC level soon after. Finishing the 2017 season as the Giants’ interim HC, Spags landed the Chiefs gig. But HC interest has eluded the accomplished defensive play-caller.
The Chiefs held the 49ers to three field goals in their latest Super Bowl win. While Kansas City’s offense was far from dominant, its defense had done enough to keep the deficit at one score late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs have questions regarding top defensive pieces Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed. Although the team wants to retain both, each sits weeks away from free agency. The Chiefs having Spagnuolo locked in will stand to help if they lose top personnel soon.
If I’m Spags at 64, I just ride out the KC DC role as long as I can. Wouldn’t entertain other HC roles unless Reid were to retire
Unlike some others, he has the advantage of having been a HC before so he would probably have a better sense of where the booby traps and pitfalls are hidden.
His HC tenure was so bad though I don’t think he is or 90% of the league is interested in him being a HC again.
That’s fair, but it was also under the Kroenke era St.Louis Rams, which had an absolute Kelvin level zero interest in improving the team. So, while I don’t consider Spagnuolo a head coach by any means, I do have some sympathy for (and Steven Jackson) in that context.
Kevin Dummyoff lying on X everyone in STL knows the truth Spags was setup for failure and yes besides having a great RB and decent DF the rams let letting go of talent and Sam Bradford was a bust. All to Kroenkes plan as his plan was to sink the team in STL and move it to LA. For this former rams fan and converted Chiefs fan I am glad Spags is with Reid these two are enjoying this part of their careers and both deserve it. 3 peat please
Yeah exactly enjoy the ride and try winning more rings and become a legendary DC that should get him in the HOF
he’s done a phenomenal job these last 5 seasons in KC. I hope he gets into the HOF as a DC. Another ring and it should be an easy decision for them.
Even without, it seems obvious to me. Between his work in New York and in K.C., Spagnuolo has outplayed his hand several times in the biggest moments. He’s certainly earned his case as a D.C., though it may sound odd to say out loud.
How many not great head coaches but great D.C.s have we seen in that regard? Wade Phillips, Buddy Ryan, Jim Schwartz, Vic Fangio, Monte Kiffin? Spagnuolo has more rings-and was a great contributor on those rings-than any of them.
you are absolutely correct
To the victors go the spoils
One gets fired, one gets extended. Shanahan wets himself AGAIN and someone else takes the fall.