The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into a 2026 season where there is an expectation of leaning on the offensive side of the ball early in the year. Losing so many key starters has limited Steve Spagnuolo's defense early in the year, with the unit likely needing time to make adjustments. With this in mind, fans have every reason to exercise patience and look back at just how great Spagnuolo has been for the Chiefs in recent seasons.
Kansas City's last Super Bowl run in 2023 was defined by Spagnuolo's unit giving up 17.3 points per game in the regular season. This was followed by another masterclass that supported an incredibly limited 2024 offense by only allowing 19.2 points per game. While Patrick Mahomes gets due credit for making plays when KC had to have it most in these seasons, it was the defense that delivered back-to-back AFC championships.
Elite development from Spagnuolo and finding ways to keep opposing offenses off balance have simply become an expectation and speak to the underrated greatness of the coach. Heading into a season when the early results might not be as elite as KC fans have grown used to, this is an important fact to remember.
Steve Spagnuolo is an underrated driver of the Chiefs' dynasty
The highest points per season allowed under Spagnuolo in the last five seasons is 21.7 while playing an incredibly difficult schedule. There simply is no denying the greatness of the coordinator and the results he has gotten despite the Chiefs consistently shuffling the cast. Only Chris Jones has been a consistent star for the coach to lean on, with the rest of Kansas City's defensive roster changing year-in and year-out.
Fans have every reason to both look back in appreciation and prepare themselves for a bit of 2026 regression. While it wouldn't be shocking to see Spagnuolo get the most out of the current roster, it is a reasonable take to expect growing pains due to an incredibly young and inexperienced group.
Giving the coordinator grace while looking at his past accomplishments is the only move, while understanding that it is only a matter of time until the Spags have the unit clicking and playing at a high level. The only question remains how long this will take, with the number of changes creating a level of unpredictability that fans aren't used to dealing with from an always dependable unit.
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