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Steve Spagnuolo enters his eighth season as the Chiefs defensive coordinator in 2026. In his career, he owns four Super Bowl rings (XLII, LIV, LVII and LVIII) as a defensive coordinator making him the only coordinator in NFL history to win four Super Bowls and sole coordinator to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises (Giants XLII, Chiefs LIV, LVII and LVIII). He is a part of one of just eight teams in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles (LVII and LVIII) and appeared in three-straight (LVII, LVIII and LIX). Over the past four years (2022-25) Spagnuolo's defense has led the NFL in defensive points allowed, limiting the opponent to an average of 18.9 points per game.

Steve Spagnuolo enters his eighth season as the Chiefs defensive coordinator in 2026. In his career, he owns four Super Bowl rings (XLII, LIV, LVII and LVIII) as a defensive coordinator making him the only coordinator in NFL history to win four Super Bowls and sole coordinator to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises (Giants XLII, Chiefs LIV, LVII and LVIII). He is a part of one of just eight teams in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles (LVII and LVIII) and appeared in three-straight (LVII, LVIII and LIX). Over the past four years (2022-25) Spagnuolo's defense has led the NFL in defensive points allowed, limiting the opponent to an average of 18.9 points per game.

In 2025, Spagnuolo's defense was steadfast, ranking sixth across the league for points allowed per game (19.3). The defense also ranked first in opponent fourth down conversion percentage (.261), second in opponent plays of 10+ yards (169) and tied for fourth in opponent first downs allowed per game (291). The defense also held up well against the run, ranking ninth in the league allowing an average of 105.7 rushing yards. DT Chris Jones earned his seventh career Pro Bowl nomination in 2025, earning the nod after recording 7.0 sacks (-39.0 yards), 12 tackles for loss, and two passes defensed. LB Nick Bolton also had a standout season and led the defense with 154 tackles (73 solo), 10 tackles for loss and six passes defensed. Bolton had eight games in 2025 with 10+ tackles and five-straight such games from weeks 13-17.

In 2024, Spagnuolo and his defense helped propel the Chiefs to their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Going undefeated at home for the first time in franchise history (8-0), the Chiefs earned a first-round bye in the 2024 playoffs and rested their starters Week 18 in Denver. Through Week 17, the Chiefs defense averaged just 18.0 points allowed per game, the second fewest in the league and allowed the fourth fewest yards per game (310.8), rushing yards per game (98.3) and rushing plays of 10+ yards (39). Stacked up against the league, the defense was fourth in points allowed per game (19.2), eighth in net rushing yards allowed per game (101.8) and red zone touchdown percentage (.519), and ninth in net yards allowed per game (320.6). DE George Karlaftis had a standout year recording 28 quarterback hits, 8.0 sacks (-46.0 yards), nine tackles for loss and five passes defensed. DT Chris Jones earned his sixth Pro Bowl nomination along with his third AP All-Pro selection (first-team) with 5.0 sacks (-23.0 yards), 20 quarterback hits and nine tackles for loss. LB Nick Bolton led the defense with 106 tackles (73 solo), 11 tackles for loss and six passes defensed while rookie DB Jaden Hicks made an impression with three interceptions, the most amongst the defense's 13 total.

Spagnuolo's defense was a powerhouse in 2023, continually providing game-changing production en route to the club's second-consecutive Super Bowl title. Spagnuolo and his unit allowed the fewest 20+ yard plays allowed (46), second-fewest total points per game (17.3), second-fewest offensive points (271), second-fewest opponent yards per game (289) and the third-fewest yards per pass attempt (6.03). Spagnuolo consistently shut teams out in the second half, ranking first in second-half points allowed (126) and including three second-half shutouts. His defense did not allow more than 27 points the entire season, including the postseason. Through the playoffs in 2023, the Chiefs defense held the top three ranked offenses in the AFC to an average of 15.7 points per game.

For the second-straight year, Spagnuolo's defense recorded the second-most sacks (57.0) across the league, which was also the second-most sacks in a single season in Chiefs history. Much of the defense's production was spurred from DT Chris Jones who recorded his second-straight season of double-digit sacks with 10.5 (-71.5 yards). Alongside him was second-year DE George Karlaftis who matched Jones' 10.5 sacks (-55.5 yards). Jones was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl, and second AP All-Pro Team (first-team) and was voted by his teammates to be a postseason team captain. As one of the top duos in the NFL, CB Trent McDuffie and CB L'Jarius Sneed consistently locked up the league's top receivers. McDuffie was the team's second-leading tackler with 80 tackles (60 solo) and added 3.0 sacks (-24.0 yards), five forced fumbles, seven passes defensed and nine QB pressures. McDuffie was selected to his first AP All-Pro Team (first-team) following the season. Sneed led the team with two interceptions, totaled 78 tackles (60 solo), had 14 passes defensed and made a key play during the AFC Championship Game, knocking the ball out of WR Zay Flowers' hands for a touchback. The defense also featured newcomer LB Drue Tranquill who quickly made an impact with 4.5 sacks (-19.0 yards) and seven tackles for loss while LB Nick Bolton and S Justin Reid continued to be defensive leaders. Reid topped the defense with 95 tackles (74 solo) and showed his versatility with 3.0 sacks (-16.0 yards) while adding seven passes defensed and five QB pressures.

Spagnuolo's 2022 defense achieved a top three ranking in four critical categories: QB hits (1st, 198), sacks (2nd, 55.0 sacks, -388.0 yards), QB pressures (2nd, 241) and third downs of more than two yards (3rd). With Spagnuolo's guidance, the team's eight total defensive rookies handled 25 percent of the defensive snaps - the third most in the league - and set the second highest snap percentage in NFL history for a team to reach the Super Bowl. All eight took the field for Super Bowl LVII which were the most defensive rookies in Super Bowl history and included three starters (DE George Karlaftis, CB Trent McDuffie and CB Jaylen Watson). As a rookie, Karlaftis made an immediate impact and recorded 6.0 sacks (-40.0 yards), seven passes defensed and 11 quarterback hits. CB L'Jarius Sneed and S Juan Thornhill led the team with three interceptions a piece. Sneed showcased his versatility as he notched a career-high 3.5 sacks (-31.0 yards). Second-year LB Nick Bolton broke the Chiefs record for single season tackles with 108 solo tackles and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in Super Bowl LVII. In his seventh year, DT Chris Jones had one of his most productive seasons with 15.5 (-105.5 yards) sacks, tying his career-high and bringing his career total to 65.0 (-457.0 yards), which tied for third in the NFL amongst active DTs. Jones was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl, 2022 AFC Defensive Player of the Year Award and was named to the AP All-Pro Team (first-team). Jones and Bolton were both voted by their teammates to be 2022 playoff captains.

In 2021, the Chiefs defense went on a 10-game stretch allowing only 14.3 points per game, which led the NFL and held five opponents to 10 points or fewer, ranking ninth in total points allowed. For the third year in a row, Spagnuolo's defense ranked in the top 10 in takeaways, finishing fifth in the NFL. DT Chris Jones logged a team-high 9.0 sacks (-65.5 yards) and his inside presence helped the defense to rank ninth in the NFL QB hurries and earned him Pro Bowl recognition. As a rookie, Bolton led the team with 112 tackles, including 11 for loss as he was named the club's Mack Lee Hill award winner as the team's best rookie or first-year player, an award voted on by his teammates.

The 2020 Chiefs defense held opponents to 22.6 points per game and allowed 20 points or fewer in nine contests en route to the team's second-consecutive Super Bowl appearance. As a unit, the defense forced 16 interceptions and six fumble recoveries enabling 67 points off 22 takeaways. S Tyrann Mathieu led the team with six interceptions, and DT Chris Jones led the team in sacks for the third-straight season with 7.5 sacks (-28.0 yards). Mathieu, Jones and DE Frank Clark earned Pro Bowl honors. Jones also was named first-team All-Pro.

In his first season as defensive coordinator of the eventual Super Bowl Champion Chiefs, Spagnuolo oversaw a defense that ranked in the top 10 in several categories: points allowed (7th, 19.3), takeaways (T-10th, 23), red zone touchdown percentage (T-9th, .509), QB passer rating (5th, 80.8), yards per pass attempt (6th, 6.67) and 20+ yard plays (T-10th, 55). In 2019, the defense logged five-consecutive games holding teams to no more than 17 points and in the final five games, allowed no more than 10.4 points from their opposition. In Super Bowl LIV, Spagnuolo's defense stopped three consecutive drives, allowing just 58 total yards, which gave QB Patrick Mahomes the field position to score the final 21 points, sealing a Chiefs 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Two members of the Chiefs 2019 defense were nominated for the Pro Bowl following the season, DT Chris Jones and DE Frank Clark.

Prior to joining the Chiefs, Spagnuolo served as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants for three seasons (2015-17) and was named the Giants interim head coach for the final four weeks of the 2017 season. In 2016, the Giants fielded the NFL's most-improved defense, one that was a catalyst behind the team's 11-5 record and first postseason berth in five years. Spagnuolo's defense achieved top-10 rankings in 12 statistical categories, including a top-five ranking in eight critical statistical categories during the 2016 season: touchdowns allowed (1st), red zone efficiency (1st), points allowed per game (2nd), opposing quarterback rating (2nd), yards allowed per rush (2nd), third-down efficiency (3rd), completion percentage (3rd) and first downs allowed per game (5th). His three years coordinating New York's defense marked his second stint in that role as he served as the Giants defensive coordinator from 2007-08. Spagnuolo's defense helped lead the Giants to a 17-14 victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII following the 2007 season holding Tom Brady and the NFL's top offense to 274 total yards, including just 45 yards rushing and no completion greater than 19 yards.

After his first stop with the Giants (2007-08), Spagnuolo was hired as head coach of the St. Louis Rams, where he spent three seasons at the helm (2009-11) and led the Rams to a six-game turnaround between 2009-10. Spagnuolo also had a stint as defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints (2012) where he led a unit that finished with 15 interceptions, including four that were returned for touchdowns, and forced 11 fumbles to help the Saints finish with a plus-two turnover differential. Following New Orleans he spent two seasons on the defensive staff of the Baltimore Ravens, first as a senior defensive assistant (2013) and then as assistant head coach/secondary coach (2014).

Spagnuolo broke into the NFL under Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid when Reid held the same position with the Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2012). Spagnuolo spent eight seasons (1999-2006) working on the defensive coaching staff in Philadelphia under the late Jim Johnson, holding the positions of defensive assistant/quality control coach (1999-2000), defensive backs coach (2001-03) and linebackers coach (2004-06). While with the Eagles, Spagnuolo was part of four-consecutive NFC East titles, reached four-straight conference title games and earned a Super Bowl appearance following the 2004 season.

A native of Whitinsville, Massachusetts, he attended Grafton (Mass.) High School, where he is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Springfield College (Springfield, Mass.), where he was a two-year starter at wide receiver. In the spring of 2026, Spagnuolo was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame. He earned a master's degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts.

Spagnuolo and his wife, Maria, have a passion for philanthropy and maintain a strong commitment to giving back to both their Philadelphia and Kansas City communities. The Spagnuolos have a particular passion for supporting underprivileged youth and annually support causes that provide physical and emotional aid to youth and people with disabilities, including the Northern Children Home (Philadelphia), Inglis House (Philadelphia) and the Salvation Army (Kansas City and Philadelphia).

Education: Springfield College (B.S. 1982); University of Massachusetts (M.S. 1983) Born: Whitinsville, Mass. Family: Wife - Maria.