Kansas City Chiefs: Steve Spagnuolo move is meant for one man
By Erik Lambert
The Kansas City Chiefs made a momentous decision following their loss in the AFC championship by firing defensive coordinator Bob Sutton.
It was a somewhat shocking move considering the man had a top 7 scoring defense his first four years with the team from 2013 to 2016. However, the struggles the unit had all culminating with their meltdown against New England sealed his fate. Now head coach Andy Reid is on the hunt for a replacement and it would appear he’s already got the name he wants.
Steve Spagnuolo has deep connections to Reid. He was linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles during much of the early 2000s before the New York Giants made him their defensive coordinator in 2007. Then Reid had to go against him twice a year. Spagnuolo has extensive coordinating experience and has produced a top 10 defense three times.
It makes perfect sense that Reid would want somebody he knows and trusts to run the Chiefs defense. However, there may be a more singular reason for this particular hire.
Former Giants’ DC and HC Steve Spagnuolo has emerged as the favorite to replace Bob Sutton as the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 23, 2019
Spagnuolo and Andy Reid worked together in Philadelphia, share the same agent and have a mutual respect for each other’s work.
Steve Spagnuolo has a history of making Tom Brady uncomfortable
It’s clearer than ever that the Chiefs know their mission this 2019 offseason. That’s to do anything and everything in their power to get past the New England Patriots. They remain the measuring stick for the rest of the AFC. There’s a reason to believe the Spagnuolo move has a lot to do with that. While he’s not the most credible coordinator on the market, he does have one thing going for him.
He seems to find ways to make Brady uncomfortable.
Spagnuolo has coached against the future Hall of Famer three times. In the past two games they met, Brady has been sacked eight times. Remember that the Chiefs failed to sack him once in the conference championship game. So adding a guy who understands how to create pressure on the quarterback would be an obvious priority. Coming from the school of the late Jim Johnson. Spagnuolo is known best for his ability to craft creative blitzes.
With horses like Chris Jones, Justin Houston, and Dee Ford he should have the pieces necessary to wreak some serious havoc in Kansas City. Especially if the Chiefs can find a way to improve their beleaguered secondary.