Chiefs waste no time extending key member of vaunted defense

A key figure for the Kansas City Chiefs isn’t going anywhere.

The franchise announced Wednesday morning, about an hour prior to its parade to celebrate its victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58, that it had re-signed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to a contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Spagnuolo, 64, just completed his fifth season as Kansas City’s defensive coordinator and has quickly developed a reputation for shining in big games. Kansas City is no longer known only for its prolific offense; the Chiefs defense has become part of a championship identity that has seen the team win consecutive Super Bowls and three in the past five seasons.

Against the 49ers, Spagnuolo’s defense gave up 382 total yards, but the game turned in the third quarter, when his unit stuffed San Francisco to three consecutive three-and-out drives to start the second half.

This year, the Chiefs posted the NFL’s second-best scoring defense, allowing just 15.8 points per game, and also ranked fifth in total defense (337.5 yards per game allowed), fifth in defensive third-down efficiency (28.57%) and tied for fourth in defensive red-zone efficiency (57.14%).

Under Spagnuolo’s direction this season, defensive tackle Chris Jones was nominated to his second consecutive, first-team All-Pro selection and slot cornerback Trent McDuffie earned his first-ever first-team nod, in his second season in the NFL.

Spagnuolo served as the head coach of the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11, compiling ant 11-41 record before his dismissal. He was also interim head coach for the New York Giants in the 2017 season after Ben McAdoo was fired.