Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were just one win away in 2008 when they joined the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only team in NFL history to ever play a perfect season, but they were stripped of that feat by the New York Giants in what is believed to be one of the sport’s biggest disruptions.
Unfortunately for Brady, he will face the same man behind that Giants’ championship defense when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Sunday.
SUPER BOWL LV: 5 X FACTORS ON THE CHIEFS
Steve Spagnuolo, 61, has had a long career coaching in the NFL, but the peak of his career came in 2008, in his first year as a defensive coordinator for the Giants. Under head coach Tom Coughlin, Spagnuolo orchestrated a defense strategy capable of stopping an attack that remains among the best in the history of the league to this day.
“ Spags, ” as he was called by the players he coached, told the NFL Network in 2018 that the key to his success 10 years ago was twofold: frustrate Brady by maintaining the pressure and not letting him throw up passes. 20 meters.
“(Linebacker) Jessie Armstead teases me about this, but at one point in the week I said, ‘Look, it doesn’t matter whether we stop him from throwing it or not, let’s just make sure we hit him Spagnuolo said at the time. “He told me this later, he said, ‘That doesn’t sound good.’ He said, “Coach, I’m not too sure I was on board with that.” ”
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He continued, “But our boys bought it and we hoped – the hope was that we could frustrate him a little bit. That was the first. The second was, let’s not give up passes over 20 meters.”
Spagnuolo tried his luck as a head coach in 2009 when he accepted the position with the St. Louis Rams. He was going to go 11-41 before being fired in 2012.
But Spagnuolo would make a comeback in 2019 when he joined the Chiefs as defensive coordinator. He worked well with head coach Andy Reid who he previously worked with for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2006.
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The duo would lead the team to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title, making Spagnuolo the only offensive or defensive coordinator in the history of the league to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.
Spagnuolo has the recipe for success. Brady is a methodical player who can be easily thrown off the field by constant pressure or blows. He is also known for his deep strides and will fire them if given the chance.
The Chiefs are no stranger to the Super Bowl scene, but they will have to play smart if they want to repeat greatness.