Chiefs Coach Showered Joe Burrow with Praise—but Reminded Him Who the King Is

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo considers Joe Burrow as the second best in the league behind his favorite Patrick Mahomes.

Chiefs Coach Showered Joe Burrow with Praise—but Reminded Him Who the King Is

Joe Burrow, Steve Spagnuolo (Image via ABC News/Pro Football Rumors)

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has built a reputation for spinning near-impenetrable defenses, most notably the New York Giants unit that stunned the undefeated Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl. But his talents aren’t limited to that; he can also subtly throw shade while passing a compliment.

Steve Spagnuolo had a limited but headliner appearance in the recently premiered second season of the hit Netflix docuseries “Quarterback,” where he showcased that side of himself. The new season followed the highs and downs of NFL quarterbacks Jared Goff, Joe Burrow, and Kirk Cousins.

In the second episode, titled Damn Near Perfect, the initial part focused on the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs defeated the Bengals 26-25 despite a solid performance from Burrow, thanks to a final-minute field goal by Harrison Butker. The quarterback completed 23 passes while throwing for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns.

After the tough loss, Burrow congratulated Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and made his way to the sidelines when Spagnuolo stopped him for a quick word. The defensive coordinator applauded Burrow for his performance, all while reminding him he’s second to Mahomes.

Hey, other than our guy (Patrick Mahomes), you are the best in the business. I’m not saying that because you’re standing here.

Spagnuolo told Burrow

Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow have gone head-to-head five times, twice in the playoffs and thrice in the regular season. The Bengals’ QB has won two of the three regular-season outings, while the pair shared the playoff wins. The Chiefs are not scheduled to play the Bengals in the upcoming regular season, so they may square off in the playoffs once again.

Steve Spagnuolo is a fan of Joe Burrow and has made it known multiple times

Over the past few seasons, Spagnuolo has repeatedly drawn parallels between Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. Spagnuolo first linked Burrow to Brady in 2021, in the former’s second season in the NFL.

Joe Burrow (2)
Joe Burrow (Image via Associated Press)

Ahead of the Chiefs’ Week 17 showdown with the Bengals during the 2021 season, Spagnuolo expressed admiration for Burrow’s poise and command. At the time, Burrow was still early in his NFL career, but he had an innate ability to read defenses, stay composed under pressure, and lead a young offense.

This may sound crazy, but I see a young Tom Brady, This guy does everything. He does not look like a second-year quarterback that missed a lot of his first year, totally impressed with him.

Spagnuolo said, per The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway

Joe Burrow and the Bengals defeated the Chiefs 34-31 as the quarterback completed 30 passes and threw 4 touchdowns for 406 yards. In the same season, the Bengals played the Chiefs once more, in the AFC Championship Game, where the Bengals edged out their opponents in a thrilling overtime game.

The Chiefs avenged their 2021 loss in the 2023 AFC Championship Game. By that time, Spagnuolo’s adoration for Burrow seemed to have deepened. The coach iterated his comments linking Burrow to Brady. He further stated that the quarterback employed a killer instinct, which the coach believed translated to his offense as well.

Albeit the parallels, Joe Burrow is yet to prove himself as analysts predict a make-or-break season for the quarterback. The Bengals start their season against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field.

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