Chiefs News: PFWA honors Steve Spagnuolo with lifetime achievement

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been selected as one of Pro Football Writers of America’s recipients of the 2024 Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award for a lifetime achievement as an assistant coach in the NFL.

The PFWA outlined Spagnuolo’s qualifications for the award in its official press release:

Spagnuolo just completed his fifth season as the Chiefs defensive coordinator and 24th in the NFL in 2023. He has coordinated four Super Bowl champion teams, and he is the only coordinator in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises (N.Y. Giants 2007; Kansas City 2019, 2022, 2023). His 2023 defensive unit ranked second in both points and yards allowed and held San Francisco’s offense down late in the Chiefs’ OT victory in Super Bowl LVIII. He was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants (2015-17) and the Giants’ interim head coach for the final four weeks of the 2017 season. Spagnuolo began his NFL career with Philadelphia (1999-2006), followed by stints with the Giants (2007-08), St. Louis Rams (2009-11), New Orleans (2012) and Baltimore (2013-14) before returning to the Giants.

Spagnuolo shares this year’s honor with longtime NFL assistant coach Bill Callahan, who is currently the Tennessee Titans’ offensive line coach.

Historically, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has not inducted assistant coaches — but Spagnuolo currently holds the distinction of being the only coordinator in history with four Super Bowl championships.

Perhaps this latest accolade could be another sign he may break that trend somewhere down the line.