The Raider Ramble‘s own Mario Tovar was ahead of the curve when he suggested it may be time for Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to get another shot at being a head coach in the National Football League. Mark Davis agrees; on Wednesday, the Las Vegas Raiders requested permission to interview the long-standing AFC West coach.
Spagnuolo, a six-year defensive coordinator in Kansas City, is as well-decorated as they come. On top of winning three Super Bowls with Kansas City, the now-65-year-old coach helped the Giants lift the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the 2007 season as the team’s defensive coordinator.
These are feats no other coordinator in the history of the NFL has achieved. Not only is Spagnuolo the only coordinator to ever win a Super Bowl as part of two different organizations, but he’s also the first coordinator to earn four Super Bowl rings.
It should come as no surprise that such a resume is attractive to Raiders controlling-owner Mark Davis.
Spagnuolo’s track record of success is comparable to now-former Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels. In Davis’ eyes, McDaniels’ achievements were so impressive that Las Vegas’ head coach search in 2022 came to an end once it was made clear that the former New England Patriots offensive coordinator was available.
But don’t mix up McDaniels and Spagnuolo; they are far from the same person. While ego and pride was the downfall of one, accountability and adaptability have made the other thrive.
All the same, it must be said that, like McDaniels, Spagnuolo’s first opportunity as a head coach didn’t go as planned–albeit for much different reasons.
Kansas City Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo to stay in the AFC West with Las Vegas Raiders?
Spagnuolo’s first stint as a head coach
Spagnuolo earned an opportunity to lead an NFL club in 2009, signing a four-year, $11.5 million contract. Three-of-four years would be fulfilled before his firing, courtesy of a 2-14 season during the team’s 2011 campaign. This was a major regression from the 7-9 record his club accumulated one year prior.
Second-year quarterback Sam Bradford took steps backwards in 2011, completing a career-low 53.5% of attempted passes. He tossed six touchdowns through 10 contests, in addition to six throws that went the other way. Although running back Steven Jackson earned a trip to the Pro Bowl during his first-two years under Spagnuolo in St. Louis, 2011 wouldn’t present that same result.
The Rams’ defense only had one year of not being bottom-feeders, too.
In 2009, the unit allowed the second-most touchdowns league-wide. That number skyrocketed to 12th-least in 2010, then plummeted back down to seventh-most the next season.
In the end, the Rams had won 10 of their 38 contests in the Spagnuolo era; a blatantly embarrassing win-percentage of .208%.
For perspective, Josh McDaniels’ win-percentage with the Las Vegas Raiders was .360%, while Antonio Pierce’s was .346%. Those two gentlemen might as well be Hall-of-Famers when comparing their win-loss records to that of Spagnuolo’s in St. Louis.
Their situations were much different, however. At no point did Spagnuolo coach a Rams team that housed a Pro Bowl quarterback, nor a first-team All-Pro running back, nor a Pro Bowl tight end, nor a first-team All-Pro wideout. McDaniels, in comparison, had each of those at once.
Spagnuolo didn’t immediately move on from his core players either, nor did his stars demand to be traded under him.
Perhaps the AFC West defensive guru will get another chance; this time with the Las Vegas Raiders.
*Top Photo: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
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