4-time Tremendous Bowl-winning defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who gained his first with the 2007 Giants, takes a timeout to huddle with Steve Serby for some Tremendous Bowl 2025 Q&A earlier than his Chiefs face the Eagles
Q: What are your favourite New York Giants recollections, aside from successful Tremendous Bowl 2008?
A: Yeah, that’s an enormous one. I simply benefit from the moments with the gamers, like on the sideline when Antonio Pierce when he would come over. , it’d be in the midst of a sport, and Michael Strahan getting the fellows all riled up, and the enjoyable that the D-line used to have with one another, and Sam Madison and the fellows (chuckle) within the secondary. I bear in mind the relationships with the gamers greater than something, and fairly frankly, nonetheless have with them in the present day. I get pleasure from texting them, seeing them, due to what we shared collectively.
Q: That first Tremendous Bowl championship was not the sweetest for you?
A: Pay attention, they’re all fairly candy. I’m simply glad I’ve been in a number of of ’em. That one was particular as a result of it was the primary, and hear, it was the entire Patriot undefeated season, in order that’ll at all times be fairly particular.
Q: Is Eli Manning a Corridor of Famer?
A: I feel he’ll finally be in there. Two-time Tremendous Bowl champ, loads of successful there in New York — yeah he’s received my vote.
Q: What did you consider Invoice Belichick going to North Carolina?
A: I assumed it was fairly cool. I feel it’s nice for school soccer to have the most effective coach in all of soccer, within the historical past of soccer, teaching in school. I’ll have my eye in tune to how they do, I’ll be troubled to see.
Q: Would that ever enchantment to you, teaching in school?
A: I don’t know, I’m unsure about that. I’d wish to hold the job I received proper now (giggle).
Q: How would you describe Patrick Mahomes’ mindset within the fourth quarter and additional time?
A: Pay attention, Patrick is an elite competitor. Be’s like all these elite guys, Tom Brady was the identical method, Peyton Manning. My guess is that if they had been in one other sport, they’d be the identical method, they’d be successful issues at no matter it’s — ping pong — as a result of once they get right down to crunch time, they’ve simply received this knack of coming by way of.
Q: What is exclusive about coach Andy Reid’s relationship with Patrick?
A: Pay attention, they’re related on the hip. I really like the truth that Patrick respects Andy a lot as a coach and as a mentor. And I feel Andy in return respects Patrick as effectively. I watch him on Fridays, they go in Andy’s workplace collectively and type of do a last-minute overview of the sport plan. I at all times see Patrick stroll out, he goes proper by my workplace. It’s only a great point to see.
Q: How do you clarify their bond?
A: I feel they see the sport very comparable, each of them are artistic offensively, so I feel there’s some synergy there. I feel Andy places loads of belief in Patrick, and vice versa.
Q: What do you bear in mind in regards to the younger Andy?
A: It was virtually like after we received collectively there [Philadelphia] in 1999, he had been at Inexperienced Bay, had gained a Tremendous Bowl. I bear in mind at all times saying this about Andy that he knew precisely the right way to get us to the place we needed to go. Like he had a plan, he had a course of, however he already had been there so all of us trusted in what he was doing.
Q: How did successful your second Tremendous Bowl, the 2019 Chiefs beating the 49ers, evaluate to successful your first?
A: After they occur, within the second they’re occurring, that’s probably the most particular one, and that’s what you bear in mind. The one factor I do learn about these Tremendous Bowls is it’s solely an pleasing, memorable occasion should you win the sport, as a result of in ’04 once I was with the Eagles, we went and received beat by the Patriots, and it’s a distinct feeling.
Q: What had been the feelings like strolling off the sphere?
A: It’s an enormous downer. Greater than something you are feeling actually, actually dangerous for the gamers that put all the hassle all through the season and definitely in that sport. As a coach and a pacesetter, that’s while you received to step in there and attempt to pump them up and allow them to know, “Don’t overlook, you’re nonetheless a champion, and also you gained a convention championship,” however it’s not simple.
Q: You gained your third Tremendous Bowl with the 2022 Chiefs, over the Eagles.
A: what I bear in mind in regards to the third one is we gave up too many factors. As a result of that was the 38-35 one. I felt nice about successful the sport, would have felt lots higher about our efficiency if we had not given up that final landing to permit them to tie it. Gave up the 2-point conversion, after which after all Patrick led us down there to win, thank God. However we might have favored to have carried out higher defensively.
Q: Successful your fourth one final yr, over the 49ers once more.
A: I bear in mind the problem being stopping [Christian] McCaffrey and that offense and [Brock] Purdy, after which we went to additional time, so that you’re by no means going to overlook about additional time. I didn’t need Patrick to have to return again and rating a landing, so thankfully for us, we held them to a area purpose.
Q: What would you like the on-field persona of your protection to be on this Tremendous Bowl?
A: Pay attention, we pleasure ourselves in being aggressive and a number of, however the important thing ingredient for our guys is that we’re on level mentally. In these video games, it actually at all times often comes again to some psychological errors, or issues that you just didn’t do this you would have accomplished higher.
Q: Saquon Barkley, who does he remind you of?
A: Guys like Thurman Thomas, Emmitt Smith … nice imaginative and prescient working backs as a result of I feel this child’s received nice imaginative and prescient. Wrap that into his bodily physique and his physicalness and his velocity, that’s a reasonably good working again.
Q: So what do you inform your protection?
A: It comes again to elementary defensive soccer. We speak about constructing a wall, setting an edge and monitoring the hip, and that takes 11 guys to do it, as a result of the constructing the wall, we’re attempting to not let him go proper down the center of the protection. When he bounces it exterior, you bought to set the sting and switch him again. And when he does reduce it again, that’s our monitoring the hip theme that we use, anyone’s gotta be there to fulfill him when he does reduce it again.
Q: As a defensive coordinator, do you get pleasure from moments just like the Payments sport, when Josh Allen has the ball on the finish? What goes by way of your intestine at that time?
A: We attempt to prep for these moments, after which there’s a menu and a listing. And hopefully you’ve ready the fellows effectively sufficient, however when that occurs fairly truthfully, it doesn’t matter what you name, it comes right down to the execution by the gamers, and on that specific play you’re speaking about [a Nick Bolton sack of Allen on fourth down to seal the win], they executed it completely.
Q: Aren’t you nervous in any respect?
A: It’s anxious. … I let you know what, in various moments with Nick Bolton, I often have a few ideas in thoughts, ’trigger I can speak to him and I’ll say, “What do you concentrate on this?” And, “Which one among these?” And he can sign to me. I exploit him for enter in that, too. Did the identical factor on this one, and did it a yr in the past within the San Francisco sport. And when he nods and says, “Yeah go along with that one,” I really feel higher about calling it.
Q: What separates Chris Jones?
A: He’s received God-gifted expertise that loads of different folks don’t have. He’s a extremely clever soccer participant, I don’t suppose folks know that sufficient about him — like he sees issues, he picks up on issues. He doesn’t come throughout that method, and he’s a enjoyable man to be round. All that wrapped up in a single makes him who he’s.
Q: George Karlaftis?
A: We received George at 21 years previous and he’s only a pet. To only see him develop into the person that he has and he’s enjoying higher … he’s terrific at taking teaching. He’ll sit there and hear, he’s intrigued and embraces all the pieces we do.
Q: Trent McDuffie?
A: We received him at 22 years previous, and he was like 22 occurring 35. He was probably the most mature 22-year-old I’ve been round. It reveals up in his play. We ask him to do loads of various things and he does all of them very well.
Q: Describe going through Jalen Hurts within the 2023 Tremendous Bowl.
A: I assumed he was phenomenal in opposition to us. I imply, he made two or three clutch throws, two I can bear in mind to the tight finish. He demanded our respect on that day, and I’ve given it to him ever since. It’ll be the identical method on this sport. He’s legit. … Individuals say that he can’t do that, can’t do this. Anytime I’ve gone in opposition to him, he operates that offense actually effectively, and when he’s throwing the soccer, he’s throwing the ball on a dime.
Q: How do you take care of the Tush Push?
A: I don’t have a solution for that one (giggle). I can’t determine that out. Hope they go offside, I suppose, Or don’t get in third-and-1.
Q: Ideas on Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio?
A: I received loads of respect for Vic. We by no means labored collectively, we’ve talked on the telephone and seen one another at combines and whatnot. Now we have mutual mates, they usually communicate extremely of Vic as a result of they labored with him. I simply suppose he does a terrific job.
Q: What’s one intangible trait this staff possesses that has enabled it to do what it’s accomplished?
A: Steadfast. Proper by way of Andy Reid, it filters by way of the entire teaching employees and gamers. They’re unwavering in these moments the place it will get actually intense, which that’s what this sport is, they usually discover a technique to win led by Patrick and a bunch of these different veteran leaders.
Q: How does Travis Kelce get open so usually?
A: I simply suppose he’s received a nifty knack for sliding and bobbing and weaving, and Patrick is aware of precisely what he’s gong to do as a result of they’ve been collectively for therefore lengthy.
Q: What was your favourite Tremendous Bowl to observe as a child?
A: Nicely, I grew up a Patriots fan. Those (giggle) they had been in once I was fan, they didn’t do effectively in. [The 1985 Patriots] performed Chicago and received beat dangerous in that one [46-10 in Super Bowl XX]. They type of all clump collectively. I bear in mind when Buffalo went on their run, I do know they didn’t win it. And at all times the groups just like the San Franciscos and the dynasties like Dallas, I simply loved watching the sport.
Q: What’s your Tremendous Bowl game-day routine?
A: We’ve performed loads of later video games on Sundays (giggle), when you’ve Patrick Mahomes, you get these time slots. However we’ve got a walkthrough within the morning, which is sweet to get the gamers off their toes, after which it’s get on the primary bus and recover from to the stadium.
Q: What is going to you be pondering on that first bus?
A: I attempt to embrace it a little bit bit … attempt to take a deep breath, get pleasure from what’s occurring round you. After which once I get there, I often take one fast stroll across the area earlier than I modify. I type of hunker down, get in my little world, and I’m simply regularly reviewing the sport plan, give you some preliminary ideas. After which earlier than you recognize it, the three hours are gone.
Q: How about while you stroll out into the stadium for the primary time?
A: There’s loads of time from the time you stroll on the market until we truly kick the ball off, so don’t expend an excessive amount of power. We inform the gamers that, too. We in all probability go over and sit down on the bench as a result of there’s loads of exercise earlier than a Tremendous Bowl, with the songs they sing and all of the introductions, so that you type of take a deep breath and don’t gear your self up too quickly, gamers and coaches. So there’s loads of deep breaths taken there at the moment.
Q: Do you go searching in the course of the nationwide anthem?
A: I’d be sincere with you, I’m often praying in the course of the nationwide anthem (giggle), in order that’s my factor. I’m not right here if it’s not for God, and I’m at all times thanking him, I’m speaking to him at all times all through the sport, in order that’s type of my ritual.
Q: What do you pray for?
A: I pray for the well being of the gamers greater than something. I’m often grateful in the midst of that prayer for being in that second, for the great Lord bringing me there, as a result of I always remember that.
Q: It by no means will get previous coming to the Tremendous Bowl and successful it, does it?
A: No, I don’t suppose anyone would ever say it will get previous. Simply blessed to be in it. I imply, it’s an exceptional factor, and I’ve been blessed to be round good folks, and we’ve got a superb quarterback.
Q: If you first began in soccer, may you ever have imagined a profession like this?
A: My goals by no means went this far. I went to Springfield Faculty to be a phys. ed. trainer to return to Grafton [Mass.] Excessive College, coach highschool soccer and train … science or phys. ed. or no matter (chuckle), and my goals didn’t go this far. I’m simply blessed to be in the midst of it.
Q: What would you want your soccer legacy to be?
A: I received in it to be a trainer, to be a mentor, so I’m hoping when it’s all mentioned and accomplished that you just’ve affected some guys positively, not simply as gamers however as males, too. I actually strive to do this as a lot as I can in conferences and with gamers. They want that, this youthful technology wants that. Fairly frankly, I feel the world and the nation wants good, sturdy character males.
Q: Steve Spagnuolo Corridor of Fame?
A: That’s past even my pondering. I’m simply attempting to win this sport proper right here (giggle).