Tag: quote

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo on Patrick Mahomes: ‘I’m trying to get him to play defense too’

#Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo revealed his scheme to get Patrick Mahomes to play for his defense in 2024.

Steve Spagnuolo signed a contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs this week after the team’s historic win in Super Bowl LVIII.

The veteran defensive coordinator has turned into a Chiefs legend since joining the team in 2019, and has earned his stripes as one of the NFL’s top assistant coaches.

After finding success with his unit in 2023, Spagnuolo told Pat McAfee this week that he wants to try something new: Get quarterback Patrick Mahomes to play on his defense.

“Patrick is a team guy,” Spagnuolo explained. “He’s all about winning, he’s all about team. When you’re on the other side of the ball that makes you feel tremendously good… You watch Patrick Mahomes operate day to day, he walks by my office every day on the way to the quarterback meeting room, or whether he’s on the field, it’s always about making all the other guys better.”

When McAfee asked if Mahomes’ experience growing up around professional locker rooms with his father might help him be a great teammate, Spagnuolo made his pitch.

“I’ll tell you, what I’ve been trying, I’ve been trying to see if he can be the first two-way player,” Spagnuolo said with a smirk. “We can get him out there to play safety, get him out there to play corner… I don’t think coach Reid is going to go for it, but how about that, right?”

It remains to be seen if Reid will take Spagnuolo seriously in this regard, but one thing is certain; the coordinator and quarterback are prepared to do everything necessary to secure Kansas City a three-peat, even if it means Mahomes takes on an ironman role.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid explains his celebratory tackle of Chris Jones after Super Bowl LVIII

Andy Reid told reporters about his celebratory tackle of Chris Jones after the #Chiefs’ win in Super Bowl LVIII.

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The head coaching career of Andy Reid is seemingly destined to end with an enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Kansas City Chiefs adding a third title has put them in the same conversation as some of the league’s greatest dynasties.

Reid’s trust and passion for his players’ success has made him a favorite wherever he’s coached. The viral video of the 65-year-old coach playfully tackling defensive tackle Chris Jones was a prime example of his relationship. He explained the moment to reporters during Tuesday’s press conference.

“I was so happy for him (Chris Jones),” Reid explained. “I kind of had been riding him a little bit. We needed him in there, and he was spent; he was tired, but he sucked it up, and he got out there, and he pushed himself probably further than he thought he could push himself.

“He took himself to that state, that wrestling state where you got to really reach down in there and kind of get through that evil thing that is kicking your butt internally. He did that, and I was so proud of him for that.”

The question remains regarding the future of Jones in Kansas City as his one-year deal is over, and he can test free agency this offseason. Reid reminded reporters of general manager Brett Veach’s comments about focusing on retaining the All-Pro defensive tackle.

“I think (General Manager Brett) Veach has said it before, we’d love to have him (Chris Jones) back,” said Reid. “They just have to work all that out, but I think that the effort will be there probably on both parts to try to get something done.”

The prospect of signing Jones is always up for discussion because of the type of money he could demand. The Chiefs will still need to figure out how to re-sign cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

Andy Reid on Travis Kelce’s first-quarter outburst: ‘He keeps me young’

#Chiefs head coach Andy Reid explained what happened during Travis Kelce’s first quarter outburst on the sideline at Super Bowl LVIII.

Andy Reid wasn’t shy in talking to the media about Travis Kelce’s first-quarter outburst that left fans scratching their heads during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers.

After running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled the ball inside the 10-yard line early in the game, Kelce exchanged some passionate words with Reid, prompting many to believe that something was awry on the Chiefs’ sideline.

But when Kansas City secured its victory against the 49ers, Reid was gracious in his explanation of what happened during comments to the post-game crew.

“He keeps me young,” Reid said, laughing. “It tested that hip out. He caught me off balance. Usually, I’d give him a little bit [back], but I didn’t have any feet under me.”

It would seem that winning truly cures all, and after a momentous victory on the NFL’s biggest stage, Reid, Kelce, and the rest of Kansas City’s roster are sure to rest east, even if the heart-pounding matchup made emotions run high.

Chiefs DL Chris Jones on what gives Steve Spagnuolo an edge: ‘He’s Italian’

#Chiefs DL Chris Jones attributed Steve Spagnuolo’s success to the seasoned coordinator’s Italian heritage.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has been among the most impressive units in the NFL this season and helped give the team a chance to defend its Super Bowl title.

Few players on Kansas City’s defense have been more impactful than lineman Chris Jones, who tied for the top spot on the Chiefs’ leaderboard for sacks during their 2023 campaign.

Jones is known as a bombastic character who is always quick with a joke during comments to the media. This week, a reporter asked him about what makes defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo such an effective coach, and Jones wasn’t shy in sharing his thoughts.

“He’s Italian,” Jones quipped, smiling. “He’s amazing. His resume speaks for itself, I think he’s the only [defensive coordinator] who was able to go to the championship with two different teams. He’s been very successful in the scheme of defense that he’s ran over his span in the NFL. It’s Spags, man. What can you say?”

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Jones’ hilarious take on Spagnuolo’s success is sure to stick with fans in Chiefs Kingdom for some time, and with any luck, the defensive lineman can help add another ring to his coordinator’s collection against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

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Raiders owner Mark Davis on Chiefs occupying Allegiant Stadium: ‘They earned it’

#Raiders owner Mark Davis told a reporter that the #Chiefs ‘earned’ the right to occupy Allegiant Stadium during Super Bowl LVIII.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ bitter rivalry with the Las Vegas Raiders took a strange turn this week as the defending Super Bowl champions prepared to defend their title against the San Francisco 49ers in Sin City.

As the home team for Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs took over Raiders facilities at Allegiant Stadium in a move that left many of Las Vegas’ fans displeased.

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But Raiders owner Mark Davis ceded control of his team’s space with surprising grace during Super Bowl opening night on Monday. When a reporter asked Davis if it was awkward to hand the keys to Allegiant Stadium over to Kansas City, his response was surprisingly respectful.

“As I tell everyone, the Chiefs and the 49ers are my two favorite teams, other than the Raiders,” Davis told Ladd. “Hey, listen, they earned it, and that’s why they’re here.”

While tensions between the AFC West foes may have cooled temporarily, the Raiders and fans in Las Vegas will be relieved when Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ stars vacate the premises after Super Bowl LVIII.

Fans, media react to Nick Bosa’s assertion that Chiefs tackles ‘hold a lot’

Users on Twitter were less than pleased with #49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa’s take on the #Chiefs’ tackles ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on February 11. More than a week away from the game, one 49er couldn’t help but take a jab at the Chiefs’ offensive line.

Star defensive end Nick Bosa told reporters this week that his time in the film room studying Kansas City’s offense yielded one observation.

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“They [the Chiefs’ offensive line] hold a lot,” Bosa said during comments to the media.

While the comment may have been innocuous in a vacuum, many users on social media seemed to think that Bosa’s assertion was a way of priming fans for a discourse about the NFL’s referees if the game’s final score wasn’t favorable for San Francisco.

The Chiefs have been the object of speculation about a perceived advantage when officials make crucial calls on penalties, and Bosa’s quote added fuel to the fire ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

Check out some of Twitter’s best reactions to Bosa’s comment:

Former Chiefs QB Alex Smith: ‘This 49ers defense doesn’t do a lot’

#Chiefs legend Alex Smith seemed confident in Kansas City’s ability to move the ball against the #49ers during a podcast appearance this week.

The Kansas City Chiefs are slight underdogs for their Super Bowl LVIII matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, but one former quarterback who played for both teams likes the defending champion’s chances of escaping Las Vegas, Nevada with their second-consecutive title.

Chiefs legend Alex Smith appeared on The Adam Schefter Podcast this week to break down his thoughts on the highly anticipated matchup between the NFL’s top teams.

In speaking about the 49ers’ defense, Smith didn’t seem sure of their ability to do enough to keep Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense from taking over the game.

“This 49ers defense doesn’t do a lot,” Smith explained. “They don’t present a lot of volume. I think… they’re going to be in for it. The only chance I think the Niners have to win is a little bit of a shootout, and again, this Chiefs defense just continues to elevate their game.”

Whether Smith’s prediction will prove to come true remains to be seen, but fans in Chiefs Kingdom can rest easy knowing that their former signal-caller is confident in Mahomes’ ability to move the ball against San Francisco’s stout defensive unit.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles decries team’s effort vs. Saints

Bucs coach Todd Bowles decried his team’s effort in their loss to the Saints, saying they couldn’t have beaten “a high school team”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were heavily picked to beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but things didn’t go their way — and Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles put much of the loss on his team’s lack of effort. The Saints won 23-13, and if not for a garbage time touchdown pass it wouldn’t have been even that close.

“If wouldn’t have mattered if we had played a good team, a bad team, a college team or a high school team, we wouldn’t have won the game with the way we played today,” Bowles said bluntly after the game when discussing the loss with reporters.

Both teams took the field from wildly different circumstances; Tampa Bay had won four games in a row while the Saints were coming off an embarrassing loss in prime time last week. But none of that mattered after kickoff. The Saints brought more intensity and played with greater urgency, and that made the difference.

Is it enough to get them to the playoffs? No, but it’s a good start. The Saints tripped themselves up too often early in the year. Now they’re in a position where they’ll need help from other teams to go the distance and clinch a playoff berth. But it all starts by beating the Bucs, which they did, and rallying in the regular season finale with a win over the Atlanta Falcons. As Allen has been telling the team each week, all they can do is control what they can control.

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Twitter reacts to Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s flippant response to reporter

Twitter was less than thrilled with #Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling after his flippant response to a reporter on Friday.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling has had a hard time finding his footing in the Kansas City Chiefs offense this season. The sixth-highest-paid player on the team, Valdes-Scantling has produced just 17 catches for 273 yards and one touchdown through 12 games in 2023.

Digital sports reporter P.J. Green of FOX4 News Kansas City asked Valdes-Scantling about his recent struggles on Friday in the Chiefs locker room and was met with a flippant response from the veteran wide receiver. Valdes-Scantling was dismissive of the line of questioning, indicating that he didn’t know what Green was asking about.

“I don’t really know what you’re referring to,” Valdes-Scantling replied when asked about the dropped balls that have cost Kansas City valuable positioning in the AFC playoff race. “It is what it is. It’s football, [you’re] not going to make every play. It’s not really anything going on that doesn’t happen in any other season, that doesn’t happen to any other player in this league.”

Chiefs fans on social media had a field day with the former South Flordia Bull’s comment, especially after he replied to Green’s video on Twitter.

Check out some of the best reactions to this bizarre interaction from Twitter:

 

Taylor Swift not concerned with feelings of ‘Dads, Brads, and Chads’ at Chiefs games

Taylor Swift gave a firey response about the feelings of “Dads, Brads, and Chads” who would rather she not attend #Chiefs games.

The Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift saga has taken the United States by storm since their relationship went public earlier this year, and the fanfare surrounding the 12-time Grammy winner’s attendance at Kansas City Chiefs games has ruffled some feathers among the team’s fanbase.

In an interview with Time magazine, Swift confronted the angst of those who would rather she stay home than attend Chiefs games, issuing a stern statement about their feelings.

“I’m there to support Travis,” Swift said. “I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads.”

Usually reserved, her comments are sure to have some contingency of the Kansas City faithful up in arms, though Swift clearly has no regard for their opinions.

The pop-culture icon isn’t going anywhere any time soon, and her reputation as a fearless Chiefs fan is sure to continue making evermore headlines as she supports her tight end lover.