Kansas City Chiefs announce contract extension for defensive coordinator Spagnuolo
Shortly before Wednesday’s Super Bowl parade through Kansas City’s downtown and rally at Union Station, the Chiefs announced a contract extension for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
The contract extension rewards Spagnuolo for a superb season that culminated in a championship. The Chiefs’ defense was crucial to that effort throughout the season and postseason.
Spagnuolo is the first NFL coordinator to win four Super Bowl titles.
Spagnuolo, in his fifth season as the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, received ample praise this postseason. That included words from Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh a few weeks ago, who said the Chiefs have a “very smart” defensive system that is “well organized.”
Channel 41’s Aaron Ladd interviewed Spagnuolo on the parade route Wednesday, with the defensive coach saying, “I’m blessed to be with really good people: Andy (Reid) and Clark Hunt. I’ve wanted to stay, and I’m glad we’re here for a little bit longer.”
The Chiefs beat the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game to advance to this year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas, where they beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime this past Sunday.
“It’s a challenge to game-plan against,” Harbaugh said. “Honestly, I don’t understand why I don’t see Steve’s name for head coach (in the NFL). I’m scratching my head on that one. He’s very deserving of an opportunity.”
In the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over San Francisco, two big moments helped turn the game. A blitz by cornerback Trent McDuffie and his pass deflection forced the 49ers to settle for a late field goal and gave the Chiefs enough time to forge a tie.
In the overtime period, the 49ers reached the KC 9-yard line. But the Chiefs and defensive tackle Chris Jones got pressure on quarterback Brock Purdy to force another field goal. The Chiefs then scored the game-winning touchdown.
Spagnuolo, who was head coach of the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11, told NFL.com’s Michael Eisen before last year’s Super Bowl that he’d “like that chance” at another head-coaching opportunity while also saying he was content if it didn’t happen.
Chiefs coach Reid said earlier in the postseason that he admired the amount of teaching Spagnuolo had done this season with a still-young group of defensive players.
He also labeled Spagnuolo as the “general” of the defense, saying he was the one who designed all the team’s defensive play-calls that were thrown at opposing offenses.
“He’s got a great variety of pitches,” Reid said with a smile. “... He doesn’t get overzealous with blitzing every down. Some guys do that. He picks and chooses the time.
“But to do that, you’ve got to know — or at least have a feel — on what the offense is doing.”
