Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been chosen as one in every of Professional Soccer Writers of America’s recipients of the 2024 Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award for a lifetime achievement as an assistant coach within the NFL.
The PFWA outlined Spagnuolo’s {qualifications} for the award in its official press launch:
Spagnuolo simply accomplished his fifth season because the Chiefs defensive coordinator and twenty fourth within the NFL in 2023. He has coordinated 4 Tremendous Bowl champion groups, and he’s the one coordinator in NFL historical past to win a Tremendous Bowl with two completely different franchises (N.Y. Giants 2007; Kansas Metropolis 2019, 2022, 2023). His 2023 defensive unit ranked second in each factors and yards allowed and held San Francisco’s offense down late within the Chiefs’ OT victory in Tremendous Bowl LVIII. He was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants (2015-17) and the Giants’ interim head coach for the ultimate 4 weeks of the 2017 season. Spagnuolo started his NFL profession with Philadelphia (1999-2006), adopted by stints with the Giants (2007-08), St. Louis Rams (2009-11), New Orleans (2012) and Baltimore (2013-14) earlier than returning to the Giants.
Spagnuolo shares this 12 months’s honor with longtime NFL assistant coach Invoice Callahan, who’s presently the Tennessee Titans’ offensive line coach.
Traditionally, the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame has not inducted assistant coaches — however Spagnuolo presently holds the excellence of being the one coordinator in historical past with 4 Tremendous Bowl championships.
Maybe this newest accolade might be one other signal he could break that development someplace down the road.
