Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo has led another Super Bowl-caliber defense, and this could be his best unit yet

What the Kansas City Chiefs are doing just isn’t normal. The defending Super Bowl champions are in their fourth Super Bowl in the last five years, sitting as only the third team in NFL history to accomplish such a feat, joining the 1990s Buffalo Bills (1990-1993) and the 2010s New England Patriots (2014-2018). Should they defeat the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers for a third title in this span, with a second win against the 49ers in this run, it’s safe to say they are a dynasty. 

It helps Kansas City’s offense has two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes and future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce along with head coach Andy Reid front and center for this historic five-year run. However, the Chiefs appearing in Super Bowls with this trio didn’t begin until the 2019 season, when Reid hired Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to fill the same position in Kansas City.

Spagnuolo, affectionately known as “Spags,” earned his first Super Bowl ring as the DC for the 2007 New York Giants, the only team that handed the New England Patriots squad from the same season a loss. Spagnuolo’s defense held a Patriots squad that entered Super Bowl XLII averaging 36.8 points per game to just 14 points, playing a massive role in dropping New England’s 18-0 record to 18-1 as he and New York walked away with a Vince Lombardi trophy. 

Here is a look at his three previous Super Bowl-winning units and why his 2023 Chiefs group could be his best championship-winning defense yet should they come out on top against San Francisco. 

2007 season (20.8 PPG allowed including playoffs, 14th in NFL)

Playoff matchups vs. top-five scoring offenses

NFC divisional round: 21-17 win at No. 1 Dallas Cowboys (averaged 28.4 PPG, second most in NFL)NFC conference championship: 23-20 OT win at No. 2 Green Bay Packers (averaged 27.2 PPG, fourth most in NFL)Super Bowl XLII in Arizona:…


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Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2024-02-07 22:54:13

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