Tag: Steve Spagnuolo

Chiefs re-sign DE Mike Danna to three-year deal

The Kansas City #Chiefs are expected to re-sign veteran defensive end Mike Danna to a three-year contract.

The Kansas City Chiefs are keeping their core players on the defensive line intact for next season. The latest re-signing is defensive end Mike Danna, keeping him in Kansas City for next season and beyond.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Danna has agreed to stay with Kansas City on a three-year deal. The 26-year-old has spent his entire NFL career with the Chiefs, starting all 16 games he played in 2023 and finishing with 6.5 sacks.

Since being selected in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Danna took advantage of his first opportunity to be a consistent starter in 2023. He’s accumulated 128 tackles, 17 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He’s emerged as a trusted option for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who praised his work ethic.

Former Chiefs DB Mike Edwards signs with Buffalo Bills

Former Kansas City #Chiefs safety Mike Edwards signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo #Bills.

The Kansas City Chiefs lose another member of their Super Bowl LVIII winning defense, with the latest departure coming from the secondary.

After publicly meeting with several teams at the start of free agency, Safety Mike Edwards officially joined the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday. The announcement was made on the Bills’ social media account, featuring a photo of Edwards ironically putting pen to paper with an image of him in a Chiefs uniform in the background.

The complete terms of the deal weren’t announced, but it was confirmed to be a one-season agreement with the 27-year-old.

During his lone season with the Chiefs, he collected one interception, two fumble recoveries, one fumble recovery for a touchdown, and 51 total tackles in 17 games, including five starts. The fumble recovery for a touchdown was memorable during the matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany. The six-year veteran was valuable to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s secondary depth.

The two-time Super Bowl champion will be an addition to a Bills unit that has gone through significant changes on defense this offseason. Kansas City could be in the market for adding in the secondary during next month’s NFL Draft.

Report: Chiefs to re-sign veteran DL Derrick Nnadi

The Kansas City #Chiefs are expected to re-sign veteran defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi.

The Kansas City Chiefs are returning another member of their defensive line with the expected re-signing of defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi. The defensive line is staying pact with some of the players that made it so effective in the latest Super Bowl title in 2023.

The res-signing was confirmed on Thursday evening by Nnadi’s agency, SportsTrust Advisors:

Nnadi is coming off a 2023 season in which he collected a sack and 29 tackles in 17 starts alongside Chris Jones. As a big body, he provided a presence and could stop the run from his defensive tackle position. Since the franchise drafted him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he has been a vital starter in Steve Spagnuolo’s schemes.

The former Florida State standout has accumulated 222 tackles, five sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. The Chiefs are retaining much of the group that helped the defensive unit to new heights in 2023.

NFL rumors: Chiefs to tender exclusive rights free agent DL Malik Herring

The #Chiefs are expected to tender exclusive rights free agent Malik Herring.

The defensive line keeps familiar depth for the upcoming 2024 season as the Kansas City Chiefs lock up one of their own ahead of free agency.

Defensive lineman Malik Herring is staying in Kansas City for another season following a report from Chiefs Digest he’s received a qualifying tender from the team. The 26-year-old was set to become an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) for the Chiefs, avoiding the deadline. He was a steady contributor in limited action last season, tallying ten tackles and 1.5 sacks in seven games.

The massive re-signing of All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones became official Monday as the front office attempts to continue building around the star. Herring has floated between being active and inactive on gameday but has played well when given time on the field, significantly raising his value on Joe Cullen’s defensive line.

Herring secured four tackles in the postseason on the way to Super Bowl LVIII, showing Steve Spagnuolo’s trust in him during pressure situations.

Herring will head into 2024 with an opportunity to compete for more playing time in the defense’s rotation. The former Georgia Bulldog was an undrafted free agent in 2021, signing with the Chiefs shortly after that year’s NFL Draft.

Andy Reid on Chiefs’ defense in 2023: ‘The one consistent part of our team’

#Chiefs head coach Andy Reid lauded Steve Spagnuolo and Kansas City’s defense in a recent interview.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid made an appearance on the Fox Sports show Speak on Thursday to talk about his team’s 2023 season.

The 65-year-old head coach explained how the Chiefs’ defense was able to carry Kansas City throughout the season and was a crucial part of the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl campaigns.

“That was the one consistent part of our team,” Reid began. “Steve Spagnuolo does a great job with the defense, as do his guys. You can go right down the line with the coaches, the players — you saw this last year, you saw a bunch of young guys coming into the secondary, you saw the veteran players on defense help teach these young guys and show them the way.”

Reid alluded to the veteran players’ leadership and how those lessons taught during last season’s training sped up the development of the young players, leading to Kansas City possessing one of the best defenses in the NFL.

“By the time we got to the playoffs, all of a sudden our defense was doing a great job,” Reid continued. “Defensively, I knew coming into training camp, I could tell by the coverages, the jams, they were tighter. Whether it was zone or man the guys were growing up. You had this feeling, ‘We are going to be really good on defense.'”

The Super Bowl was a microcosm of the entire season, as Kansas City’s defense kept the Chiefs within striking distance, while the offense gradually figured things out.

49ers showed interest in hiring Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo after Super Bowl LVIII

The San Francisco #49ers showed interest in hiring #Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo after Super Bowl LVIII.

Super Bowl LVIII’s results favored the Kansas City Chiefs securing their third title in five years. The San Francisco 49ers parted ways with their defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks, shortly after the game in pursuit of his replacement, reportedly on the other sideline.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was rumored to be the primary target, according to NFL Insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The statement was made on a recent episode of The Athletic Football Show podcast, discussing the latest news around the league.

“On the coaching side, which there is no cap, right? Steve Spagnuolo signs a couple of days after,” said Russini. “San Francisco was flirting with him and bringing him in as DC (Defensive Coordinator).”

Spagnuolo has garnered more appreciation around the league by leading another defense to a Super Bowl victory. He turned around a unit that struggled for seasons before taking the job in Kansas City in 2019.

The Chiefs wasted little time after the Super Bowl to retain Spagnuolo, signing him to a contract extension moments before the start of the championship parade on February 14th. The 49ers recently interviewed Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt before announcing the hiring of Nick Sorensen from the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.

Why Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo just had to talk to Brock Purdy after the Super Bowl

After the Super Bowl, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo made a point to reach out to Brock Purdy.

After initially praising Brock Purdy in the postgame press conference after the Super Bowl, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has continued to show respect for the San Francisco 49ers’ young passer.

In a recent interview on “The Season” with NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, the Chiefs defensive coordinator revealed he reached out to get Purdy’s phone number to text him after the Super Bowl.

I just wanted to tell him how much respect I had for him and what a terrific game he played. He’s such a quality guy, strong Christian man and I respect all of that. and I’m happy for all his success. I’m glad he didn’t have quite the real good game.

Via @PSchrags on Twitter:

In the 49ers’ loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Purdy threw for 255 yards on 23-of-38 passing with a touchdown pass. Purdy posted an 89.3 passer rating and 69.8 QBR in his first appearance in the Super Bowl.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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WATCH: Chiefs DB Nazeeh Johnson works out after recovering from season-ending injury

Nazeeh Johnson was seen working out this week after recovering from a season-ending injury that held him out of the #Chiefs’ 2023 campaign.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Nazeeh Johnson isn’t a household name in Western Missouri yet but may get his chance to earn a key role in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense next season after sitting out in 2023 due to an injury he sustained in training camp.

Johnson was a seventh-round pick by the Chiefs in 2022 and made minor contributions in Kansas City’s run to Super Bowl LVII last year.

A video of Johnson working out circulated on Twitter this week, sparking hope in some fans that he may be able to make a full comeback next season.

While Johnson may face an uphill battle to earn a starting spot on the Chiefs’ elite defense, Spagnuolo isn’t been shy about rotating players in and out of his lineups, so meaningful action may not be out of the question for the former Marshall product.

If he moves as well in the preseason as he did in this video, fans around the country may get acquainted with the up-and-coming defensive back sooner than some might expect.

Chiefs DL Chris Jones earned fifth-best PFF grade among interior defenders in 2023

#Chiefs DL Chris Jones earned a PFF grade in the top-five of all interior defenders in the NFL for the 2023 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are entering the 2024 offseason in an enviable position. As back-to-back champions, the team secured dynasty status with their win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII and will seek to keep as much talent on its payroll as possible heading into their next title defense campaign.

One key player that the Chiefs can’t afford to lose is veteran defensive lineman Chris Jones, who earned the fifth-best Pro Football Focus grade among all interior defenders for his efforts in 2023.

Jones has been a key cog in Kansas City’s defense since joining the Chiefs as a second-round draft pick in 2016. His ability to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines is unparalleled, and without his presence on Kansas City’s front-four, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have his hands full trying to generate a pass rush next season.

The Chiefs used their franchise tag on Jones last year, and may have to resort to using it again if general manager Brett Veach can’t work out a long-term deal for the star lineman in the coming months.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo thrilled by players looking forward to potential three-peat

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is thrilled that his players are looking forward to a potential three-peat.

The Super Bowl champions are still the Kansas City Chiefs following another NFL season. The team came together to pull off the back-to-back title bid and further etch their names in league history as the next great dynasty.

The praises have been loud and frequent for Steve Spagnuolo’s impressive job as the Chiefs defensive coordinator. He took time on Sunday to share his thoughts on players voicing their excitement to try for a three-peat on Super Bowl titles during his appearance on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio with host Jake Asman.

“Are you kidding me, our guys? All they’re saying is three-peat. I mean, I love professional athletes,” said Spagnuolo. “They just bubble with confidence. And it’s amazing that the guys thought about that immediately.”

The talks of a three-peat were immediately discussed by players following their Super Bowl LVIII victory, most notably by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I mean, Patrick Mahomes might have been his first thought in the locker room after we won, and that just shows you what they’re made of guys like that elite athletes that if you win one, you want to win more,” Spagnuolo explained. “I mean, it’s a love challenge. And so I guess the next challenge, we try to go back to back to back.”

The Chiefs players under contract beyond the Super Bowl will have that on their minds while the front office gets to work on retaining stars and building from within the upcoming draft.