Tyrann Mathieu drops revealing comments regarding his relationship with Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo completely transformed Tyrann Mathieu’s game.
The Kansas City Chiefs have two of the very best ever to do what they do when it comes to coaching. Head coach Andy Reid is one of the best offensive masterminds we have ever seen, even if it doesn’t look like it this season. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shares the same title, but for defense. Neither unit is doing too well in 2025, but man, have there been some pretty insane teams on both sides of the ball in the past.
On defense, Spagnuolo’s unit was primarily run by the safety and linebackers. Nick Bolton plays that role now, but in the past, we have seen guys like Justin Reid and Tyrann Mathieu run the defense. Mathieu was maybe one of the best to do so. He and Spagnuolo have a very special relationship.
Tyrann Mathieu talks relationship with Spagnuolo
“I gotta show love to my dude Spags (Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo),” Mathieu said on his podcast. “I got to man, because he put me in a position just to be great and do what I do. Honestly, I thought that kind of boosted my career, you know, in a sense, right? And I remember playing for him, man, I just felt like a new player, you know. I’m coming off two ACL injuries, you know, like, that was the first time I was like, man, like, this is, this is the dream.
“Not just that, too, but, you know, you’re playing the big games, you know, you have opportunities to end games. I always took pride in just trying to end the game. It was a lot of work, too, a lot of responsibility, and you have to show up every day. You have to show up every day. Shout out, Spags. Man… For him to give me the keys to his defense meant a lot to me.”
Mathieu is the type of guy that the Chiefs honestly need right now. I’m not sure how physically and mentally in shape he is for the game, but his passion has always driven the team. When the Chiefs signed him, not many thought the pairing of Spagnuolo and Mathieu would be anything crazy. But it turned out to be one of the best player-coordinator duos the Chiefs have ever had.
Spagnuolo has done what he’s done for Mathieu a few times now. He did it for the guy they picked to replace Mathieu a few years ago, Reid, and he’s done it for others who were overlooked. Spagnuolo knows how to put players in the best positions to succeed. He’s done that his entire career, and he definitely did that with Mathieu. When you look at what Mathieu did before and after his stint with Kansas City, they’re not nearly as good.