Rams Exec: KC Chiefs’ Steve Spagnuolo Deserves Another Head Coaching Job

A rival executive who knows Spagnuolo believes it's "well past time" for the Chiefs' star DC to land another chance at being a head coach.

The Kansas City Chiefs' defense was a significant contributor along the path to the franchise's Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo won his third ring with Kansas City on Sunday, giving him four overall as a coordinator. That mark is a new NFL record, capping off what was a spectacular season for the 64-year-old.

Spagnuolo is expected to stay with the Chiefs for another year, as the current NFL head coaching carousel has stopped spinning. Despite that, there's no shortage of buzz about whether the former head coach deserves another crack at it.

Former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill recently took to X to ask why Spagnuolo didn't receive any interviews for open head coaching vacancies. Los Angeles Rams COO Kevin Demoff, who's worked with Spagnuolo in the past, chimed in with his take. According to the 15-year executive, the time for Spagnuolo interviews should've been a while ago. 

"It is well past time to see Spags get another head coaching opportunity," Demoff tweeted. "The team & organization he inherited in STL was a mess, nobody could have had success. Yet he changed the culture/staff & players believed. An amazing human deserving of the real shot we couldn’t give him"

It is well past time to see Spags get another head coaching opportunity.

The team & organization he inherited in STL was a mess, nobody could have had success. Yet he changed the culture/staff & players believed. An amazing human deserving of the real shot we couldn’t give him https://t.co/d82dXjC3W4

— Kevin Demoff (@kdemoff) February 13, 2024

Spagnuolo has 52 games of head coaching experience under his belt, although his stints didn't go over too well. In 2009-2011 with the Rams, he went a combined 10-38 in the regular season but indeed did inherit a dumpster fire of a franchise. Six years later, the New York Giants fired former head coach Ben McAdoo in December and let Spagnuolo finish out the year as interim head coach. He posted a 1-3 record in four contests, never getting another opportunity in a similar position after that.

Since leaving New York, Spagnuolo has turned into a fan, player and fellow coach favorite in Kansas City. His success culminated with an outstanding 2023-24 regular season, one in which the Chiefs dominated on defense. Under Spagnuolo's leadership, the defense ranked second in yardage and points allowed while also performing at an elite level against top-quality teams in the postseason.

During Super Bowl LVIII, All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones talked about Spagnuolo not being offered any interviews: 

"Yeah, it was very surprising that literally he wasn't interviewed for any head coaching vacancies," Jones said. "I think he still is not getting the respect he deserves around this league with the success he's had, not only as a defensive coordinator. You look at his resume, he's the only defensive coordinator to win two Super Bowls with two different teams. As long as we keep him, we'll continue winning, man."

Spagnuolo comes off as interested in venturing back into being a head coach. On Opening Night of Super Bowl week, the veteran defensive coordinator said he'd "love another shot" but was "OK" remaining in Kansas City if the team continued winning. That's good news for his current franchise, as the Chiefs field one of the NFL's youngest defenses and project to be good again next season. 

Spagnuolo's age may be working against him at this point, but he has no shortage of supporters. Even if he never gets a chance to be a head coach again, he'll go down in history as one of the better leaders in the sport anyway.

Chris Jones on Future With Chiefs Following SB LVIII