Maybe the third time’s a charm?
In an interview with TMZ Sports released on Tuesday, former Giants running back Rashad Jennings suggested the club bring back one of its legendary coaches to right the ship — and it’s probably not who you think.
“I think Jaxson Dart is a special player. I think he’s going to develop to be one of the top guys. He’s going to be in the top 10, top 5 arguments over the next couple of years,” Jennings said, via YouTube. “So, you’ve got to bring in somebody that’s got a good offensive mind to help him. ...
“Out of all the coaches that have coached, I wouldn’t be surprised if they ask Spags to come back to lock down that defense and get an offensive-minded coordinator to take over the offense.”
That’s right! Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Spagnuolo’s history with the Giants spans two distinct stints.
He first joined as defensive coordinator in 2007, building a fierce pass rush that powered New York’s stunning Super Bowl XLII upset over the undefeated New England Patriots.
His defense ranked among the league’s best again in 2008 before he left to become head coach of the then-St. Louis Rams. That first tenure cemented his reputation as one of football’s premier defensive minds.
Spags, as he’s known across the league, returned to the Giants in 2015, inheriting a struggling unit that hit rock bottom before rebounding to top-10 form during an 11-5 playoff season in 2016.
He later served as interim head coach for the final four games of 2017 following Ben McAdoo’s firing, finishing 1-3. Though his second stint ended without a long-term role, Spagnuolo remains closely tied to the franchise’s defensive identity and its most memorable championship run.
After taking 2018 off, the Chiefs hired Spagnuolo ahead of the 2019 season. He’s helped Kansas City’s rank in the top 10 in six of his seven seasons there, and has added three more Super Bowl rings to his collection.
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