Steve

Spagnuolo

The former Rams head coach went a ghastly 10-38 in his three years at the helm from 2009-2011, but is one of the most-respected defensive coordinators in the league. It’s certainly possible that he could draw multiple interviews this cycle as he was connected to the Giants gig — the place that launched his original HC gig — in November. Spagnuolo’s defense suffered a down year as they just couldn’t muster enough pass rush in 2025, but the Chiefs have finished in the top 10 in points allowed in six of the last seven seasons. He also has an easy link to Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, who used to work in the Chiefs front office.

Stefanski certainly couldn’t be blamed for wanting to exit Cleveland after another season spent coordinating a dead-on-arrival offense hamstrung by Deshaun Watson’s contract. Especially after he didn’t appear to be on Andrew Berry’s page about giving up Joe Flacco to the Bengals in a midseason trade. As we hit silly season, Stefanski’s status will be one of the more important dominoes to watch. Hughes also mentions as names to watch for the job: Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Rams OC Mike LaFleur, Eagles OC Kevin Patullo (??), Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, Vikings DC Brian Flores, Former Raiders HC Antonio Pierce, and Texans DC Matt Burke.

All three of the interviews will take place virtually. It’ll be a busy day for Spagnuolo, who has long been one of the best defensive coordinators in football. To say it didn’t work out as a head coach his first time around is quite the understatement as seen in a 10-38 career record, but he would be far from the first coach to fail in his first attempt only to find success. It would not be a surprise at all if Spagnuolo was leading one of those three teams by the start of the 2025 campaign.

The Jaguars become the third team to request an interview with Spagnuolo, joining the Jets and Raiders. The former Rams head coach (2009-2011) also served as the Giants’ interim head coach in 2017 and has a career record of 11-41. Spagnuolo is one of the top defensive minds in the league and has led three Super Bowl defenses during his time with the Chiefs (2019-present). Those who remember Spagnuolo’s first tenure as a head coach will raise their eyebrows at the thought of him getting another chance, but he’s been a popular name in coaching circles for the last few years given his success with the Chiefs.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes that Spags also has an interview request from the Raiders. The legendary defensive mind has been in the NFL in some capacity for over a quarter-century with most of his time coming as a defensive coordinator. Spagnuolo’s first stint as a head coach started all the way back in 2009 with the then-St. Louis Rams. He went a disastrous 10-38 and was fired after three sees. Spagnuolo has since rehabbed his image with the Giants and most recently the Chiefs. Spagnuolo has been in Kansas City for six years, winning three Super Bowls in the process. He also has a fourth ring from his time in New York. Though his St. Louis sint looms large, Spags is over a decade removed from that failure and has undoubtedly learned plenty from Andy Reid and others. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get another shot at being a head coach in 2025.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said there was urgency within the organization to ink Spagnuolo to a new deal after his defense sparked a second straight Super Bowl run, compensating for an underachieving KC offense. The Chiefs defense allowed the league’s second-lowest EPA per play in 2023, and in the Super Bowl against the 49ers, Spagnuolo, 64, snuffed out a dominant rushing attack and used schemes the Chiefs had not shown once in 2023. They had the second most sacks and allowed the fourth fewest passing yards per game. Look for the Kansas City defense to again be among the NFL’s best in 2024.

The cocoon hire to end all cocoon hires, Spags should at least be an improvement on Bob Sutton. Spagnuolo occasionally oversaw fearsome defenses with the Giants. Talent was sometimes an issue the second time around. Spagnuolo began his NFL coaching career under Andy Reid in Philadelphia. If the bar is merely to be better than Sutton, Spags will clear it. Personnel issues and the Chiefs’ style of play mean the defense will almost certainly still give up a boatload of points in 2019.

Spagnuolo spent this past season out of the league. Both he and coach Andy Reid worked together in Philadelphia when Reid was the head coach and Spags was an assistant under longtime DC Jim Johnson. Spagnuolo has coordinated some stellar defenses in the past with the Giants, but also ran one of the worst defenses in history with the Saints in 2012 after failing miserably as the Rams head coach from 2009-2011. Spagnuolo would be an interesting hire for the Chiefs.

Spagnuolo’s been off the radar since Giants GM Dave Gettleman initially parted ways with him at the end of the 2017 season. There’s no target date set just yet, but Rapsheet adds Cleveland brass “could” bring him in this upcoming weekend. Stay tuned.

His contract ran dry after the Super Bowl, and both sides were obviously interested in keeping this thing going. Spagnuolo rejoined the Giants as defensive boss prior to the 2015 season. With the additions of RE Olivier Vernon, DT Damon Harrison, and CB Janoris Jenkins on top of LE Jason Pierre-Paul being healthy, the Giants finished No. 2 in team defense DVOA, checking in at No. 4 against the pass and No. 3 versus the run. SS Landon Collins was also a big part.