Kansas City Chiefs Rumors: Could Rex Ryan, Steve Spagnuolo Replace Bob Sutton As Defensive Coordinator?

After Sunday night’s 37-31 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, rumors swirled that the Kansas City Chiefs would make a change at defensive coordinator. Head coach Andy Reid did just that on Tuesday, as the team announced it would part ways with longtime coordinator Bob Sutton.

The search is on for Sutton’s replacement, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter says there is already a favorite, less than 24 hours later. Schefter reported on Wednesday morning that former New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is the leading candidate to get the job.

Spagnuolo is best known for his work with the Giants from 2007-08 and again from 2015-17. His first stint in New York included a shocking Super Bowl victory over the previously undefeated Patriots, in which his defense sacked Tom Brady five times and held one of the best offenses in NFL history to 14 points.

His second tenure with the Giants was a bit less successful. His 2015 unit was one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but an infusion of talent led to a huge turnaround and playoff appearance in 2016. A disastrous 2017 season on all fronts led to Spagnuolo and the rest of the coaching staff being let go.

Spagnuolo’s defenses have been inconsistent, but he was a longtime Andy Reid assistant in Philadelphia and has a similar philosophy to former Reid defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.

Schefter also said in the immediate aftermath of Sutton’s firing that former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan could be a candidate for the job. Sutton had previously worked under Ryan in New York, providing a link between Reid and Ryan.