In Spags We Trust.
It's a simple motto, albeit one the Kansas City Chiefs got to catch on leading up to the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. While players were warming up on the field, many of them wore t-shirts with that phrase and a series of graphics slapped across the front of it. The shirts sent a very simple message: Kansas City had unwavering faith in the ability of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to come up with and execute a thorough game plan.
Allowing just 10 points to Baltimore on the road, that belief was justified. Now, thanks to some assistance from safety Justin Reid, everyone can get their hands on an 'In Spags We Trust' shirt.
The shirt, which is sold through the No Excuses online shop, will have proceeds benefit Reid's JReid InDeed organization. The philanthropic organization's goal is to help "equip and fund youth and community initiatives for those living in underfunded and underrepresented neighborhoods in Houston, Baton Rouge and Kansas City" while prompting "healthy, sustainable communities."
According to Reid, the goal is to have purchases delivered in time for the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Speaking to local FOX 4 in Kansas City this week, Reid praised Spagnuolo and called him his top coordinator.
"He's so awesome, man," Reid said. "He's my favorite coordinator I've ever had in my life. And this defense is not easy by any means to learn at first when you're first getting put to it because it's a lot, but once you have everyone get ahold of it and really start taking ownership and command of it, man this defense is so fun. It's so versatile. Guys come from all different angles. You have the opportunity to play a lot of different positions, so it's always interesting and fun to be a part of.
"And Coach Spags is, on top of being a great man himself — a spiritual guy — but also just as a leader, man. The way he's able to inspire his players, he talks to us like family. We know how much we mean to him and he means the same to us. There's no reason he shouldn't be Assistant Coach of the Year."
This season, Spagnuolo has worked in conjunction with his players to form one of the very best defenses in the NFL despite him not getting nominated for the aforementioned award. In addition to boasting a formidable pass rush, Kansas City's linebacker depth and secondary play are elite. That's led to tremendous league-wide rankings in points and yards allowed, as well as EPA per play, success rate and much more.
Following Sunday's win over the Ravens, Spagnuolo chuckled when asked about players sporting the shirts.
"I was humbled and embarrassed, to be quite honest with you," Spagnuolo said. "But those guys had fun with it. Thank God we ended up doing well, because I would've felt really bad if we didn't."
With kickoff for the Super Bowl still over a week away, there's plenty of time left to purchase an 'In Spags We Trust' shirt. Not only does it support a great team and coordinator, but also a terrific cause.
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