New Orleans – This Super Bowl has stars throughout the field. From Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kels to Jalen Harts and Saquon Berkley, the game has plenty of star power.
But the key figure in Sunday's game could turn 65, from Whitinsville, Massachusetts, and won't throw passes or tackle. Steve Spagnuolo is back on the Super Bowl stage. This is something very familiar to the Chiefs defensive coordinators.
As he is known to center around the NFL, “Spag” is seeking his fifth Super Bowl title after winning the Giants and three with the Chiefs.
His mission Sunday is to slow down the attacks of wounds, Berklee and the mighty Philadelphia. If he succeeds, there's a good chance the Chiefs will become champions again.
“Spag is everything,” said Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffy. “He's this whole glue… We're playing for coach Spag.”
Spagnuolo joined the Chiefs in 2019 after his second stint with the Giants ended as interim coach following the Ben McAdoo firing in 2017. Mahomes was just beginning when he came on board and they together won the Super Bowl in their first year. During those first few years, Chiefs' crimes led the way. But now it's Spagnulo's defense, which is a big reason why the chiefs are looking for three peats.
Mahomes rose to a career low with passing yards and passing touchdowns, but Spagnuolo's defense was a steady force. The Chief allowed 20 points or less in 2024 in 12 of the 17 regular season games. They won all 12 of these games, eight of which were determined by one score.
“He did a great job with the guys,” Chief Coach Andy Reed said. “I think what I'm most grateful for is the trust the players have in him. That means you're doing a lot of things right. These guys, you're It's not as long as he can't pull wool in his eyes, he's doing it. They trust his plan. He's a good teacher. They trust him as a person, I know he is doing his best to put you in the best position for your skills.
Spagnuolo's signature style brings pressure.
Reappearing in the AFC Championship Game, he brings in the fourth corner blitz, throws an incomplete at Joshu Allen, and sends the Chief back to the Super Bowl.
“I think defensive football should come from a positive perspective,” Spagnuolo said. “You can't do that all the time. Honestly, we had plenty of time where we did it, but we haven't succeeded. That happens too.
“When I worked with the Philadelphia Eagles at Jim Johnson in 1999, Jim had a great belief in the pressure. One of the things I always admired at Jim was that it didn't work for the first time. But he was always willing to come back to it. Maybe I took that a bit. Most defensive players want to get involved in pressure and not sit in basic defense. I think so. I think players are enjoying it too.”
The Chief Spear says, “With the spag we trust.” There's even a proverb T-shirt.
“The whole T-shirt is humble,” he said. “I'm trying to burn them all. Every time we talk about it, it makes me feel a little embarrassed. I trust them as much as I think they trust me. We We trust each other. If you don't have it in the first place, you won't be very successful in defending or attacking this game.”
