3 reasons why Steve Spagnuolo is the greatest defensive coordinator in football history

A key part of Kansas City's success has been their creative defense run by mastermind Steve Spagnuolo who deserves more credit than he gets.

3 reasons why Steve Spagnuolo is the greatest defensive coordinator in football history

Steve Spagnuolo (Image via AP)

The Kansas City Chiefs are on track to win their third straight Super Bowl. This marks their fifth championship appearance since Patrick Mahomes became the team’s starting quarterback. This team has established itself as a dynasty and the credit for its success has largely been attributed to the likes of Travis Kelce, Mahomes, and Andy Reid; all of whom make the Chiefs a significant threat.

However, Kansas City’s identity this season especially has been its defense. Their offense has done its part but Patrick Mahomes has not been as dominant in comparison to previous years. The unsung hero is Steve Spagnuolo, the team’s defensive coordinator.

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It is surprising to see Spagnuolo not in an HC role today. With over two decades of experience, his performance and strategies continue to get better year after year. The man gets his flowers from Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ however, an argument can be made that apart from Bill Belichick, Steve Spagnuolo is the greatest defensive coordinator in NFL history. The following three reasons will solidify this narrative.

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3. Master of deception

If there is one quote that defines Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive strategies, it would be “looks can be deceiving.” This is because he disguises the actual coverage he intends to play by making his players set up in a slightly different formation.

Steve Spagnuolo
Steve Spagnuolo (Image via AP)

When the offense and quarterback see the pre-snap formation, they are led to believe one thing but the moment that the ball is snapped, the true defense takes shape. By the time the offense realizes this, it is too late and they cannot make changes.

At the foundation of his scheme is the 4-3 formation with 4 linemen and 3 linebackers. However, he adds blitz packages with corner and safety blitzes to constantly switch things up.

A counter to this strategy would be, ‘How many times can he get away with this?’ Because once the opposition figures this strategy out, they would be expecting the defense to break this way. However, Spags operates with the mindset of ‘If they expect you to go this way, then take the other way.”

2. Creative gambler

When the game is close and the point differential is under 6 points, defensive coordinators stick to the safe route and opt for zone or nickel coverages. However, in the final 2 minutes of the AFC Championship when Josh Allen and the Bills had possession of the ball, Steve Spagnuolo did the unthinkable. He began to send corner blitzes at the quarterback, a high-risk but high-reward play in this situation.

Imagine the level of confidence and courage it takes for him to make such a call. Spagnuolo’s creativity has been off the charts but the man is not afraid of betting the house on the line when needed.

In today’s NFL, even the most talented of coordinators will hesitate to take risks because they have to live with the consequences, however, that is not the case with Spagnuolo. His greatness is defined by the decisions he’s taken in big moments.

1. Timing

A great football team with elite talent on one side of the ball can fall to less talented teams when the latter has a coach who knows the right timing to use the strategies at his disposal.

Timing forms an integral part of football, and it is a skill that coaches learn through years of experience. In 2007 when Eli Manning and the New York Giants went up against a New England Patriots team that cruised through the regular season with a 16-0 undefeated record, it was certain that they were walking into a losing situation.

However, while the Giants’ offense played well, Steve Spagnuolo who was the DC of New York at the time shut down Tom Brady and Randy Moss, two of the greatest players at their position. He did not have the best pieces to work with either but he knew how to utilize the strengths of his players.

There is a reason that Steve Spagnuolo is the only coordinator in NFL history to have won four Super Bowls, and with two different teams. Bill Belichick was great as a defensive coordinator and even better as a Head Coach, however, Spags was born for this role. He thrives as a coordinator and he continually keeps switching his tactics up and learns from his mistakes.

Related: Top 10 clutch moments in Super Bowl history