Blitzing with ‘Spags': Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the mad scientist of pass rush
Associated PressNEW ORLEANS — Every once in a while, when an unsuspecting offense is least expecting it, Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid will inch his way toward the line of scrimmage, then take off like a thunderbolt toward the quarterback the moment the ball is snapped. The mad scientist pulling all those strings is Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs defensive coordinator, whose job in helping Kansas City get back to the Super Bowl had him interviewing with several clubs last week for another shot at being a head coach. But that deep, complicated defensive playbook and all those exotic blitzes that “Spags” has developed over the years are a big reason why the Chiefs are back facing the Eagles on the NFL’s biggest stage. “They’re so sound and they play their tails off, and they throw their heart out there on the field every single week.” In the early years of their dynastic run, the Chiefs defense was a liability, and it was up to Patrick Mahomes and the rest of a high-powered offense to bail it out. “He doesn’t do it every down,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
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