Andy Reid's Kansas City Chiefs have been led on defense by Steve Spagnuolo since 2019. As defensive coordinator for Kansas City, Spagnuolo has cemented himself as one of the greatest coordinators in NFL history, with the Massachusetts native winning three Super Bowl titles with the Chiefs (2020, 2023 and 2024).
Having been defensive coordinator for Tom Coughlin and the Super Bowl-winning 2007 New York Giants, the 66-year-old is the only coordinator in NFL history to win four career Super Bowls in that role, along with being the only coordinator to win Super Bowls with two separate franchises. As the longest-tenured coordinator in the NFL, regardless of offense or defense, Spagnuolo's words carry weight, and recently, he gave a concerning update on rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane.
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On Thursday, Chiefs reporter Price Carter went to X to relay the words Spagnuolo spoke about Delane. The defensive coordinator spoke about how Delane has lacked reps so far because he has been limited by injury, that it is tough to fight through that, and that hopefully he comes back quicker than expected.
"Spagnuolo on Mansoor Delane: 'We just haven’t had the work,'" Carter wrote on X. "I mean, you go through OTAs and it’s just helmets. And he hasn’t had a chance to really... The thing he’s missing right now is the continuity with a bunch of guys who are new to him. Everybody’s new, so we’re gonna have to fight through that. Before you know it, we’re going to be lining up against Denver. Hopefully we get him back quicker than we thought."
Delane was selected by Kansas City with the No. 6 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Having been a productive player with the Virginia Tech Hokies, the 6-foot cornerback transferred to play for Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers. Although LSU had a tough season, going 3-5 in SEC play and 7-6 overall, Delane shined down in Baton Rouge.
The Maryland native finished the season with 45 total tackles, 11 passes deflected and two interceptions and was selected as a unanimous All-American. The Archbishop Spalding High School graduate has been sidelined from full-contact padded sessions because of a shoulder injury sustained in June.
Kansas City will open the 2026 NFL regular season by hosting the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8:15 p.m. ET.
