NEW ORLEANS — The Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, faced one of the toughest moments in his coaching career during the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. After a challenging regular season spent alongside the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome, he encountered similar difficulties on Sunday night as the Eagles triumphed 40-22, denying the Chiefs, the two-time defending champions, a third consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
The Eagles amassed an impressive 345 yards, showcasing their offensive strength and leaving the Chiefs’ defense grappling for answers. Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie reflected on the game, pointing out that “their pass game was rolling,” and acknowledged the hard-fought effort by the Eagles. “Gotta take it on the chin and learn from it,” he added.
Entering the Super Bowl, Spagnuolo was a figure of significant reputation within the league, having recently interviewed for head coaching positions with teams including the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Las Vegas Raiders. Known for his strategic mastery in employing innovative blitzes to counteract opposing offenses, he had previously celebrated victories as a coordinator in four Super Bowls. This strategy had been effective against notable quarterbacks like CJ Stroud of the Texans and Josh Allen of the Bills earlier in the playoff run, as well as helping the Chiefs secure a win against the Eagles in a recent Super Bowl matchup.
Although the defensive unit managed to limit the Eagles’ star running back Saquon Barkley to just 57 yards, the Philadelphia offense was versatile and found numerous avenues to advance the ball and score touchdowns. Defensive end George Karlaftis described the Eagles’ performance as exceptional: “They had a heck of a game plan. They executed. They outplayed us to a man. It’s the reality of the game we play. It sucks. They played a phenomenal game.”
Adding to the Chiefs’ struggles, defensive tackle Chris Jones struggled before exiting with a knee injury during the second half, limiting the effectiveness of the team’s pass rush. The Chiefs were unable to pressure quarterback Jalen Hurts, who not only passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns but also executed a 46-yard scoring throw to DeVonta Smith, sealing the victory for the Eagles.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid observed Spagnuolo’s adjustments, noting, “Spags did a few different things; he had a couple blitzes in there.” He acknowledged that the Eagles’ running backs effectively managed the blitzes, allowing Hurts to evade many potential sacks and deliver key plays.
Hurts had a remarkable game by also rushing for 72 yards, and Kansas City’s defensive front struggled significantly against Philadelphia’s powerful running plays, exemplified by a successful 1-yard “tush push” that instigated a lead that the Eagles retained throughout. Eagles receiver A.J. Brown praised Hurts, saying, “He’s in control. He made checks, threw dimes, and when we were covered a little bit, he ran, used his legs.”
Ultimately, this Super Bowl performance drew comparisons to Spagnuolo’s challenging tenure with the Saints in 2012, which saw an NFL record for the most yards allowed in a single season at 7,042.
