Steve Spagnuolo Merged With The 49ers
Steve Spagnuolo, who was a big part of the Chiefs’ victory in Super Bowl LVIII, is still unnoticed as a head coach. The veteran DC is still interested in top jobs, but his miserable tenure as the Rams head coach has prevented him from applying. However, it appears that the Chiefs are facing competition for their DC’s services.
Although the five-year Chiefs defensive end has a new deal in place, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the 49ers were considering grabbing him for their defensive play-calling position (subscription needed). Spagnuolo’s contract was set to expire after the previous season. In order to replace Steve Wilks, the 49ers appear to be using a two-pronged approach: they want to recruit Brandon Staley to their staff in addition to promoting Nick Sorensen to Washington.
After a difficult time in St. Louis, Spagnuolo bounced back and helped Kansas City win three Super Bowls in the previous five years. The Chiefs recruited Spagnuolo, an ex-Andy Reid Eagles assistant, and saw that decision play a major role in their third Mahomes-era victory. The Chiefs had watched a subpar defense do well to keep them out of Super Bowl LIII in Patrick Mahomes’ first starter season. Even with the elite quarterback in his prime, the Chiefs failed to put together a reliable offensive in the previous year. But they were led by their No. 2 defense. The 49ers outscored the Chiefs by two touchdowns in regulation, but the thrilling second-possession conclusion was made possible by Spagnuolo’s defense stopping San Francisco in the end zone during overtime.
The 49ers fired Wilks on the same day that the Chiefs attempted to extend Spagnuolo, and the agreement was finalized hours before the San Francisco DC change became public. The fact that ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano also revealed the team looked into adding Spagnuolo lends some mystery to this timing. Though it seems the NFC champs are putting out feelers here, the Chiefs have made it clear what they want to do with their best assistant.
According to Graziano, Spagnuolo, 64, will make approximately $5MM annually under his new contract with the Chiefs. It puts the four-time Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins at the top of the coordinator standings. Vic Fangio was on that level last season with the Dolphins, even though their partnership was short-lived. Spagnuolo’s chances of earning another head coaching position are slim given his age and his dismal performance in three seasons with the Rams. But he will be there to support the Chiefs in their quest for the first three-peat of the Super Bowl era.
Since 2022, Sorensen, 45, has been a member of the 49ers. This is an intriguing selection considering that he was the Jaguars’ special teams coordinator under Urban Mayer for three years prior to this one. Additionally, Sorensen collaborated with Robert Saleh when working with Pete Carroll’s Seahawks.