MIAMI – Steve Spagnuolo has heard from members of his old gang since the Kansas City Chiefs clinched a berth in Super Bowl LIV on Jan. 19.
Tom Coughlin texted him "yesterday or the day before." Michael Strahan told Spagnuolo he would attend one of the Chiefs' practices here this week. Antonio Pierce, with whom he frequently communicates, checked in. "I heard from Osi (Umenyiora) way over in London," Spagnuolo said. "(Justin) Tuck texted me, he said that he was getting all kinds of questions about me."
Spagnuolo, the Chiefs' defensive coordinator, is back in the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2007 season, when he held the same position with the Giants and conceived the game plan that smothered New England's record-setting offense and keyed an epic upset of the Patriots. That Spags has an opportunity to earn another ring is important not only to him, but to the players who admire and respect him from working together on the Giants in 2007-08.
"Being here does bring me back to that, so it's a really good memory," Spagnuolo said at Super Bowl Opening Night, where the players and coaches of the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers both had hour-long sessions with the nation's media. "That was a special group. This is a special group I'm with right now, but what we did then, nobody expected it and it came out okay. I remember them talking about the 19-0 book that was already written. The boys got all fired up about it. A lot of special things about it."
The Giants won the Super Bowl in Spagnuolo's debut season as coordinator. The long wait to get back to the game prompted him to think not only of the players who helped get him there, but a Hall of Famer who also advanced to the Super Bowl as a rookie – but never returned.
"We all think of Dan Marino, right?" Spagnuolo said. "He went that very first year (1984) and never gets there again. You're so caught up in the first one, you win it, you hope you get back there. I remember saying this to myself, as great as it was in New York in '07, I remember saying to myself, 'I hope that's not the end or the ultimate. I hope there's something better than that.' I don't know if that will be the case or not because that was pretty special, but I'm sure glad to be involved with it again."
Spagnuolo had reason to wonder whether he'd return to the Super Bowl, because since the Giants' 17-14 victory in Arizona, his career has endured more disappointments than celebrations. In 2008, the Giants earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, but lost their postseason opener to Philadelphia. He left to become the head coach of the St. Louis Rams, but his three seasons with the team ended with a 10-38 record. Spagnuolo was hired to be New Orleans Saints' defensive coordinator in 2012. But head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the season by the NFL, the team allowed an NFL-record 7,032 yards and Spagnuolo was dismissed. He then spent two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
Spagnuolo returned to the Giants for a second stint as coordinator in 2015. After a difficult first season, his fortified defense helped lead the Giants to a wild card playoff berth the following year. But the team bottomed out in 2017 and when Ben McAdoo was fired, Spagnuolo was named interim head coach for the final four games (he was 1-3). After spending the 2018 season out of football, Spagnuolo was hired to be the Chiefs' coordinator by Andy Reid, who gave him his first NFL job in 1999 and for whom he worked eight years before Coughlin hired him to coach the Giants' defense.
Do all the lean years make this Super Bowl trip particularly sweet for Spagnuolo?
"Sure, it does," he said. "But that's part of any coach's career. I don't know that there's a coach that stays on top the whole time. You're going to have some ups and downs. You pick yourself back up and go again. I've been fortunate that people have believed enough in me. A guy like Andy Reid, to ask me to come and coach his defense, that means a lot to me."
Spagnuolo also believes his work with the Giants, particularly his plan and in-game adjustments against a Patriots team that seemed invincible, still helps him today.
"It did a lot for me individually," he said. "To be honest with you, I'm humbled by that because it's not one person that did that. We had a whole staff and a whole team that won that thing, just like we're involved with now. The assistants that we have here on defense have done a terrific job and kind of keeping this thing together and getting us going from not so good to a little bit better, and hopefully, better than we have been in the past."
This week, Spagnuolo faces a challenge both similar and vastly different to what he faced in Super Bowl XLII. That Patriots were the NFL's most productive offense, setting a then-record with 589 points, shattering the previous mark by 33 points. Tom Brady threw 50 touchdown passes and Randy Moss caught 23 of them. In 2019, San Francisco had the league's fourth-ranked offense. But the Niners bludgeon opponents by running the ball. They were second in the league with an average of 144.1 yards a game. In postseason victories against Minnesota and Green Bay, they ran 89 times for 471 yards and threw only 27 passes – eight in the NFC Championship Game.
"This is very different," Spagnuolo said. "Look, they have found a way to run the football and do it effectively. The thing that scares me the most about that is that when they're running it, if they're getting a chunk of first downs, that means (Kansas City quarterback) Patrick Mahomes is on the bench. We don't want that. If you're on the Chiefs, you don't want that. You want him out there as much as possible. We have to find a way to get them in third downs where we can dictate what goes on, because they're too difficult when they're grinding it out, getting four or five yards a crack. The other thing that people forget is that their explosive passes have really… Jimmy (Garoppolo) will be able to throw the ball down field and get explosive passes."
Spagnuolo has two assistants from the Giants to help deliver his message: David Merritt, a Giants coach for 14 seasons, is the Chiefs' defensive backs coach. Sam Madison, a cornerback on the Super Bowl XLII team, is the cornerbacks coach.
All three of them own Super Bowl rings. The Chiefs haven't advanced this far in 50 years. Spagnuolo didn't wait that long to return to the game, but he does understand how rare this opportunity is. And he will make sure his players understand that, too.
"I've got a couple of things planned for Saturday, just in that regard, I think will be helpful," he said. "We have a couple coaches on the staff that have been through it. Sam Madison was with us and he's coaching now. All of that we'll use. We'll try to pick a little from everybody and hopefully it helps us in the game."
View photos of former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who helped the team win Super Bowl XLII.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is seen during football training camp in Albany, N.Y., Friday, July 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, left, and coach Tom Coughlin talk with linebacker Antonio Pierce, right, during the second quarter of an NFL football game Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants beat the Seahawks 44-6. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo makes a point during football mini-camp Thursday, June 14, 2007, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo speaks to reporters after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Eagles won 34-29. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants head coach Steve Spagnuolo watches his team play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo looks on as his team prepares to take the field prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo walks on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo speaks after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo, center, looks on as quarterback Eli Manning, front left, prepares for the snap against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo, left, talks to umpire Butch Hannah (40) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid before a NFL football game on Sunday, November 19, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants head coach Steve Spagnuolo, left, hugs quarterback Eli Manning (10) after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 18-10. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York Giants interim coach Steve Spagnuolo leads the team out of the tunnel before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants interim coach Steve Spagnuolo leads the team out of the tunnel before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants interim coach Steve Spagnuolo gestures before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo answers questions during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo, right, works with Ross Cockrell during an NFL football practice in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo, walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo, left, talks with long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo participates in an NFL football practice in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo gives a thumbs-up during an NFL football practice in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo during the National Anthem before a week 17 NFL football game against the on January 3, 2016 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo heads toward the field before a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo runs onto the field before the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, right, runs a drill with his players during the team's organized team activities at its NFL football training facility, Thursday, May 25, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks to reporters during NFL football rookie minicamp , Friday, May 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, back, looks on as linebacker Curtis Grant makes a catch during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo during a NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Ariz. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Jon Beason (52) talks with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo during training camp practice on July 31, 2015 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett (left) talks with New York Giants interim coach Steve Spagnuolo (right)
during a 2017 NFL week 14 regular season game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Cowboys defeated the Giants, 30-10. (James D. Smith via AP)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo talks to his team following an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday December 31, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson talks with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo before a week 9 NFL football game on November 6, 2016 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo makes a call from the sideline during NFL football game against the Cleveland. Browns on Monday August 21, 2017 in Cleveland. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) following a week 5 NFL football game on October 9, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with New York Giants outside linebacker Devon Kennard (59) during a week 1 Sunday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 13, 2015 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
( Evan Pinkus via AP)
\New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo talks to his team before a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday December 10, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, left, and head coach Tom Coughlin, right, work the sidelines in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks to the defense during a NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, December 3, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo during a NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday December 31, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with quarterback Eli Manning (10) following a week 5 NBC Sunday Night NFL football game against the San Francisco 49erson October 11, 2015 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo congratulates his defense after a change of possession against the New York Jets Saturday Aug. 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with linebacker Jon Beason (52) during a week 4 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on October 4, 2015 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, New York (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday December 10, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with New York Giants linebacker Calvin Munson (46) during a NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, center, talks with his son, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, left, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo during NFL football minicamp, Thursday, June 18, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo during NFL mini-camp on April 28, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday December 10, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo hugs quarterback Eli Manning (10) after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday December 31, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo walks into the stadium prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 in London. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with former player Justin Tuck during NFL training camp practice on August 3, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo work the sideline in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo walks with former linebacker Antonio Pierce during NFL football training camp on July 28, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo watches drills during NFL football mini camp, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants defensive coach Steve Spagnuolo looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 in London. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with quarterback Eli Manning (10) during NFL training camp practice on August 9, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks to his players during an NFL football mini camp, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo arrives before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)22
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks to the defense during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo during a week 14 NFL Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 11, 2016 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looks at his Microsoft Surface tablet while talking to linebacker Mark Herzlich (94) during a preseason week 4 NFL football game against the New England Patriots on September 1, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin shakes hands with St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo following an NFL football game on Monday September 19, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks to reporters during the NFL football team's minicamp, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo receives a game ball following an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday December 31, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looks on during a week 9 NFL football against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. Los Angeles won 51-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo during NFL training camp practice on July 31, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with linebacker Antonio Pierce (58) during an NFL divisional football playoff game against the Philadelphia EaglesSunday, Jan. 11, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks to his players during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coach Steve Spagnuolo looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 in London. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is seen during football training camp in Albany, N.Y., Monday, July 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, left, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talk on the sideline during the second quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
After signing autographs, New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, center, walks through the lobby at the team hotel Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, in Chandler, Ariz. The Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday. (Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo walks amongst rows of players as they stretch at the start of football practice Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 in Tempe, Ariz. The Giants play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo speaks with reporters in Albany, N.Y., Wednesday, July 23, 2008 as the Giants prepare to begin their summer football training camp. (AP Photo/Tim Roske)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo directs the cornerbacks as Corey Webster (23) looks on during the NFL football team's practice Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday, Feb. 3, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looks on during practice at Giants NFL training camp Sunday, July 29, 2007, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo directs the cornerbacks during the NFL football team's practice Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday, Feb. 3, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo before a week 7 NFL football game on October 25, 2015 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey ( Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks about Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers after practice at Giants Stadium Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants will play the Packers for the right to play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
