Report: The 49ers “flirted” with bringing in Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator after the Super Bowl
There are many “what ifs” in the NFL. A compelling documentary about the San Francisco 49ers under Kyle Shanahan’s leadership may focus on the decisions the team nearly made or the ones that, for various reasons, didn’t pan out.
DeForest Buckner. The ACL of Jimmy Garoppolo. Dee Ford. Trey Lance. And without going any farther, those are only four.
In a recent podcast, Dianna Russini of The Athletic said that the 49ers were having flirtatious conversations with the defensive coordinator who was holding them back from winning their sixth Lombardi trophy:
And there’s no cap on the coaching side as well, correct? A few days later, Steve Spagnuolo signs. He was being courted by San Francisco and brought in as DC.
The list of names Kyle Shanahan and the Niners thought about would be fascinating to see. Mike Vrabel, Bill Belichick, and Spags. The list is endless. The “why” is what really interests me. Why would they decline the position because of those names—or the others Shanahan mentioned—?
The phone call could have ended with Spags saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
As good/great offenses have historically defeated good/great defenses, I was sure the Niners would win the Super Bowl. What I overlooked was Spags’s exceptional performance in high-stakes scenarios.
The Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl and won it because of him. DeMeco Ryans was, in my opinion, the best defensive coordinator in 2022, but Spagnuolo overshadowed him in 2023.
