Chiefs defense no longer the new kids on the block
By Jacob Meikel
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs showed the old saying “defense wins championships,” still rings true. The team knows the importance of keeping as many key pieces on that side of the ball to sustain success and a third-straight Super Bowl appearance.
The defense proved itself to be among the league’s elite in 2023 en route to its fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history. A combination of veteran leadership and flourishing young talent was everything defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could ask for.
Heading into the offseason, the Chiefs’ first order of business was to take care of the man pulling strings on defense. On the same day the team celebrated their Super Bowl 58 championship with fans in Kansas City, the team announced they had agreed to a contract extension with Spagnuolo.
After locking up the defensive play-caller for the future, the team retained its most impactful defensive player in Chris Jones with a new five-year deal in March. Jones returns to the Chiefs as a three-time Super Bowl champion as well as a first team All-Pro selection in 2023, the fifth All-Pro nod of his career.
Locking up Jones for the foreseeable future makes it more likely he’ll retire with the team he started with, a plan Jones had from the beginning.
“Since (the Chiefs) drafted me, I never planned to play for another organization,” Jones said in March. “Deep down, I felt like I was never leaving and I’m super appreciative of the Hunt family and the Chiefs organization of making sure that I retire a Chief.”
After last season’s dominant showing, the Chiefs young defense is no longer viewed as a group still trying to find its footing.
Most of the starters are either entering their third season or beyond that. It wasn’t long ago that cornerback Trent McDuffie joined a young and inexperienced secondary as a budding rookie. Fast forward to now, and McDuffie is a seasoned veteran looking to grow as a vocal leader on the team.
“I’ve had to speak up a little bit,” McDuffie said during OTAs in May. “Especially with the rookies coming in and trying to learn this playbook and everything. I know I was there two years ago, trying to just set that standard and just making sure we don’t dip below it.”
Last season, the Chiefs defense under Spagnuolo ranked second in the NFL in sacks, fourth in passing yards allowed and seventh in rushing touchdowns allowed.
