49ers Considered Poaching Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, per Report

Kansas City signed its defensive coordinator to a contract extension three days after Super Bowl LVIII.

The San Francisco 49ers explored the possibility of poaching Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

The 49ers fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks just three days after the team’s loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 and apparently looked to their opponent for a potential replacement. 

Spagnuolo’s contract was set to expire this offseason, and the Chiefs signed him to a contract extension on Feb. 14, the same day Wilks was fired. Spagnuolo’s new deal will pay him roughly $5 million annually. San Francisco went on to fill its open DC position by promoting defensive assistant Nick Sorenson and also hired former Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley to be the team’s new assistant head coach. 

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense ranked second in the NFL in points and yards allowed during the 2023 regular season under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo :: Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports

This will be Spagnuolo’s sixth year under coach Andy Reid, and the duo is coming off a third Super Bowl in that timeframe. Kansas City’s defense ranked second in both points and yards allowed this past season and excelled in yet another playoff run under Spagnuolo.