Steve Spagnuolo's qualifications aren't the question. The Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator has a stronger resume than almost any candidate who could be considered for a head coaching position these days in the National Football League. But a few factors have kept him out of the carousel of rumors for the last several years. That might not be the case anymore.
Spagnuolo's success as the Chiefs DC has elevated his status considerably, with three more rings coming after his first Super Bowl win with the New York Giants. His body of work has even brought up the idea of his potential inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a rare notion considering his status as coordinator. But it's possible he might get to add to his resume as a head coach once again.
The Giants cut ties with head coach Brian Daboll after their record fell to 2-8 this season. Daboll's three-win effort in 2024 and career record of 20-40 with the team made it an easy call to move on. In his wake, the Giants are wondering where to go next—and the answer might be Spagnuolo.
NFL reporter Ian Rapoport recently spoke about the Giants' head coaching opening and called it "one of the more coveted head coach openings in the NFL." That's due to the presence of young talent already on the roster, including quarterback Jaxson Dart. For Spagnuolo's sake, it wouldn't hurt to have such a fearsome front line anchored by Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Abdul Carter.
“[The Giants] now have, I would say, one of the more coveted head coach openings in the NFL. By the way, general manager Joe Schoen will not only stay on as GM, but run the search," explained Rapoport in a recent update.
“Among the names I would keep an eye on as the Giants, let's say, potentially look to kind of regain some of the greatness of the Tom Coughlin era, I would say Steve Spagnuolo and Antonio Pierce, two head coach candidates. Both guys they will look at. Lou Anarumo also has ties to the Giants organization.”
Steve Spagnuolo deserves another head coaching opportunity, if he's interested in such a move.
By the way, Rapoport isn't the only one floating these names, which tells you the same leak or source or propagandist—take your choice—is behind it all. NFL reporter Mike Garafolo brought up the same names of Pierce, Anarumo, and Spags in his most recent breakdown of the search and gave commentary on the latter as a potential head coach.
"Steve Spagnuolo is another one. Still don’t understand why he has not gotten a second head-coaching job. This is an organization that certainly knows him well from multiple stints there," said Garafolo.
Garafolo is not wrong in his assertion that Spagnuolo merits head-coaching consideration. He won his first ring with Super Bowl XLII with the Giants. Since coming to K.C. as Bob Sutton's replacement as defensive coordinator, he's won three more rings in Kansas City in Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII. He's coached Hall of Famers, has gleaned considerable perspective from Andy Reid and others, and is a natural leader of men.
That said, detractors have a few obvious points. First, Spagnuolo had his shot with the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11 and finished with 10 total wins in three seasons. That's not good. Second, most head-coaching hires tend toward the offensive side of the ball, and the Giants might want to follow suit, given the need for someone to develop Dart as the franchise quarterback. Third, Spags is 65 years old and settled in as Andy Reid's defensive right hand. It's natural to wonder if Spagnuolo even wants a head coaching role again.
To that last point, however, Reid himself heralded him as a potential head coaching option less than a year ago. In an interview last January, Reid was asked what a team would get if they hired Spagnuolo as a head coach. "They'll get a great football coach, a great person. He understands the game, he understands the players. He deserves another shot. I'm one of his biggest fans."
If Spagnuolo is going to find a portal back to the NFL, the Giants provide the most likely path back. He served as the team's DC for five total seasons in two separate stints, so he has extensive leadership experience in such a massive and demanding market. It's also possible for the Giants to hand the offensive reins (and Dart's development) to a qualified offensive coordinator to alleviate those concerns. It's hard to imagine Spagnuolo being insecure about having other strong voices on his coaching staff.
The Giants will consider other options, to be sure, and no one is even certain that Spagnuolo will get an official interview. But anyone in Kansas City could bear witness to the fact that Spags is a living legend on the sideline, a worthy leader who deserves another head coaching opportunity—if he desires one.