There’s one name that doesn’t get nearly as many flowers as it deserves in the NFL and that’s Steve Spagnuolo. And you know what? Spags is hardly bothered about it because he knows the team comes first rather than fame. Chiefs’ had a spectacular season and Spagnuolo’s fingerprints are all over their success. It’s his steady hand that’s been steering the ship through some stormy seas. He’s the brain behind the Chiefs’ defense, which turned their Super Bowl dream into reality not once, not twice but three times. That says a lot about his “let the actions speak” personality. 

So, it’s no surprise that his players have the utmost respect for him. But few have expressed this as clearly as Cornerback Joshua Williams did on Up & Adams Show. “He would be a great general. Like, no funny stuff. He is really just a wonder,” Joshua said. His words perfectly capture Steve Spagnuolo’s ability to command respect and inspire confidence. Under Spags’ leadership, the Chiefs’ defense doesn’t just play the game, they redefine it. 

Even Chiefs’ TE Travis Kelce praised Steve a while back on his New Heights podcast, where he talked about how crucial his defense has been to the Chiefs’ recent success. “I can’t say enough about what Spags is doing with these guys,” Kelce said. “He’s just putting them in such a position to have success and just to have fun and play free and fly around.” Kelce praised the defense for their ability to consistently rise to the occasion, especially in moments that count the most.

All these praises must feel like a lot for a guy like Spags, who’s more about getting the job done rather than getting high on fame. But, it’s well deserved, and he probably knows it too. With the respect of his players and the outstanding results to back him up, Steve Spagnuolo has a way of leaving his mark without saying much. But how is the man able to do it?

What makes Steve Spagnuolo a wonder?

Remember Steve Spagnuolo’s role as a secondary coach for the New York Giants when they defeated the New England Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl? Coming off a season where Brady threw a record 50 touchdown passes, the Giants’ defense showed off its own prowess by allowing Brady and the Patriots only 14 points in that game. That defensive success paved the way for Spagnuolo down the line. 

Steve Spagnuolo only got better with time—just like fine wine—with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs were 31st in total defense in 2018, before he became defensive coordinator in 2019. He took them from a bottom-10 to a top-10 unit in just one season, leading them to Super Bowl LIV glory.

Still, Spagnuolo’s genius lies in the fact that he adjusts and evolves his defensive scheme, especially in the biggest moments. It almost seems like the opposing offenses just never know fully how to prepare for his defensive schemes as he continues to reign as one of the biggest figures in the NFL coaching world. The Chiefdom at this point is just waiting for Spagnuolo to lead their team to the 3-peat! Coz if someone can do it, it’s the Spag and Reid duo.