At the start of training camp, one soldier always stands out. Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is as skilled as they come at his craft. He’s exactly the leader this team’s defense has needed. Now he heads into a crucial comeback season, and I believe he’ll have his players prepared to erase last season’s end.
It’s rare for defensive coordinators to stay in one position this long, but Steve Spagnuolo is beginning his seventh season with the Kansas City Chiefs. During his time there, the Chiefs have appeared in five Super Bowls, winning three.
There is no doubt that the Chiefs’ defense played a significant role in winning those Super Bowls, especially the last two, when the offense faced some challenges. I’ll go as far as to say that without Spags’s leadership with this unit, the Chiefs wouldn’t be in the middle of a dynasty.
Still, Spags doesn’t take anything for granted, and he was honest about what he told his players at the start of camp.
‘Don’t ever take this for granted’, it gets hard out here and all of that and I told them, ‘Look, at my age I’m happy to be in the first meeting at training camp, have a job (and) be healthy enough to do it, right?’ But these guys don’t realize how fast it goes by, (and) I’m realizing it now,” he said.
“I could see them all when I was talking to them all night. So, I think they get it. But we’re happy to be here and having some fun out there going against the offense. Not every play was fun but most of them, we did some good things. So, with that, I’ll just open (it) up and let you roll.”
Those words highlight why Spags is the best person to lead the Chiefs’ defense. Sure, he’d like to be a Head Coach again, but the soon-to-be 66-year-old coach probably won’t get that chance in the NFL. Owners prefer younger options, and coaches like Andy Reid and Pete Carroll are the exceptions right now.
Spags is the defensive head coach, and he took on the role after coming out of semi-retirement at the request of Andy Reid. At first, some weren’t sold on the hire, but any doubts have now been cleared. He’s now the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL, and he has the top gig in the league.
Heading into 2025, Spags maintains the same theme as his head coach. Andy Reid emphasized the importance of instilling a sense of urgency in his players, never to let up or take their foot off the gas, despite limited player contact during the offseason.
“Yeah, so we normally talk about building a foundation. We’re always saying a rock-solid foundation. And listen, I try to – it gets shorter and shorter every year in my opinion, (it) feels like it – the preparation to get ready. We were hopeful, and I think most of the guys did a good job of it, but when they left after OTAs, that had to still be a work time for them,” Spags said.
This season, Spags might have the best mix of playmakers, veteran depth, and a wealth of young players eager to make a name for themselves in the NFL. Spags has never been shy about playing rookies, but he prefers to bring them along gradually.
He’s done a brilliant job convincing his head coach and General Manager of the importance of keeping the core of his team together. That means big bucks for Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Nick Bolton, Mike Danna, and Drue Tranquill.
Though Spags doesn’t control the purse strings, I’m sure he’s not shy about offering his input on the roster, and this season, he could create a new masterpiece with the talent he has on the defensive side of the ball.
With camp open, he has one goal: get his defense ready for the rigors of the regular season. He needs to get his players to pace themselves while staying productive. Spags runs a very aggressive style of defense, and you’d better be ready when your number is called if you want to play for Spags.
One thing is sure: the future NFL Hall of Fame coach will have the Chiefs’ defense prepared to beat any challenge they face this season.
