Kansas City Chiefs Dealt Massive Blow With Steve Spagnuolo Update

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

When it rains, it pours for the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only did they finish the season with a 6-11 record — the worst of the Patrick Mahomes era — but they might now lose their top two assistant coaches.

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s contract will run out at the end of the season. And, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, he’s already a strong head coaching candidate. Now, per Schultz, the Tennessee Titans could also try to lure defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo away:

“Sources: The Titans have requested to interview Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo for their open HC position,” Schultz wrote on X. “Tennessee now has requested both KC coordinators: Matt Nagy and Spagnuolo.”

This is far from a surprise. If anything, there were rumors about the New York Giants looking to hire him to send shockwaves throughout the league.

Steve Spagnuolo Has Earned Another Head Coaching Opportunity

The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls with Steve Spagnuolo in charge of the defense. That unit wasn’t as sharp this season, and his blitz-heavy schemes often left something to be desired.

Nevertheless, he’s widely regarded as one of the greatest — if not the greatest — defensive coordinators in league history.

He already has experience as an interim head coach. And, when asked about his desire to be a head coach at some point, he admitted that it was a part of his plans:

“I mean, I’ll deal with that later,” Spagnuolo said in January 2025, per Sports Illustrated. “Listen, yeah, the answer is yes but right now, it’s all about Denver. I hadn’t even thought about that road until you just mentioned it. I’ll let all of that take care of itself.”

Some people have proven to be much better suited to be assistant coaches than head coaches. The main job comes with politics, roster management, and other aspects of the game.

However, even if Spagnuolo has yet to earn his stripes as a head coach, he’s got nothing left to prove or win as a defensive coordinator.

The Tennesee Titans gave up 27.3 points per game this season, the fourth-worst mark in the league. And with rookie quarterback Cam Ward showing signs of promise, they will prioritize strengthening the other side of the field. If that’s the case, it’s definitely hard to think of a more qualified candidate for the job than Steve Spagnuolo.