Chiefs HC Andy Reid discusses almost losing DC in offseason

Spagnuolo was hired as the Chiefs defensive coordinator in 2019 and has turned the unit into one of the best defenses in football.

Kansas City has ranked as a top-10 defense in four of the last five years, including the 2023 season when it finished second in points per game allowed (17.3).

The Springfield College graduate became the first coordinator in league history with four championships following the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII win against the San Francisco 49ers.

Similar to UCLA offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy (who held that role with the Chiefs from 2018-22), scores of analysts, fellow coaches and players have lobbied for Spagnuolo to earn a new head-coaching job.

While Bieniemy has yet to be at the helm of an NFL team, "Spags" was once a head coach. Spagnuolo's only lead gig came with the then-St. Louis Rams from 2009-11, going just 10-38 in three seasons.

Prior to his stint with the Rams, and since his exit, the 64-year-old has hugely successful runs with Kansas City and the New York Giants.

Spagnuolo was the Giants defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008, helping New York stun the New England Patriots in XLII.

After his three years in St. Louis, he was the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator for one season and worked with the Baltimore Ravens defense in 2013 and 2014. Spagnuolo re-joined Big Blue as their defensive coordinator (and briefly interim head coach) from 2015-17.

New York had the second-ranked defense (17.8 points per game allowed) under him during the 2016 campaign.

Reid is clearly relieved to have Spagnuolo back on the sidelines for at least one more season.