Andy Reid says fellow Chiefs coach ‘deserves another shot’ at a head coaching job

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Steve Spagnuolo will go down as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history and Pro Football talk were confused on one particular thing.

The Chiefs defensive coordinator has been the mastermind behind the teams dominate defense.

Whilst the Kansas City offense has rained supremacy across the National Football League for multiple seasons, it was their defense which was glue this season.

Youngest NFL defense

Chiefs Kingdom had the youngest defense in the NFL, standing at a novice average age of 25 years and 279 days old.

According to NFL stats, this was only the second time in NFL history that the youngest defense has reached the Super Bowl – the last being the 2009 Indianapolis Colts.

The 2023 Chiefs defense has been a force to be reckoned with and a tricky opposition for nearly every offence to navigate.

In the regular 2023 season, the Chiefs defense allowed the fewest points per game (17.3) and in the playoffs (13.7) – testament to the ability their young squad possesses.

Boasting an eye-opening 13.7 points conceded per game has placed the defense in prestigious company.

Only the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 2013 ‘Legion of Boom’ Seattle Seahawks have allowed fewer points than the 2023 Chiefs in the playoffs.

Since his appointment in 2019, Steve Spagnuolo has built this impenetrable unit from the ground up.

Head Coach Andy Reid and Spagnuolo’s chemistry is invaluable for the franchise. It is credit to their investment within the youth and their scouting eye that they have dominated with a young roaster.

‘He deserves another shot’

Reid was present at the 2024 NFL Combine and caught up with Mike Florio and Chris Simms on the Pro Football Talk podcast.

Florio was puzzled as to why Spagnuolo’s name seems to never circulate in the conversation of head coach vacancies.

The Chiefs head coach was equally confused: “You know what I don’t know that, I’m not very good at predicting things.

“Spags has had an opportunity do it… so he certainly deserves another shot at it. You can see how he’s taken these young guys and taught them. He’s got the whole gamut who trust in him and believe in him.”

Spagnuolo has been a full-time head coach once before at the now-LA Rams. However, this was a disappointing first experience in this role. After three seasons with the Rams, he finished with an overall record of 10-38.

Spagnuolo was dismissed from his role and found himself as the interim head-coach of the New York Giants in 2017. In 4 games, he acquired a losing record of 1-3 and would return to his DC role the next season.

The reason franchises’ do not throw the name Spagnuolo into the head coaching hat is most likely because of his previous shortcomings.

Nonetheless, the 64-year-old is regarded as one of the best DC’s in sporting history and is the only coordinator to win the Super Bowl with separate franchises.

As the Chiefs eye up a three-peat, the four-time ring winner has little motivation or reason to be discouraged at the lack of head-coaching interest in him.