Could Defense Be the Chiefs' Biggest Problem In 2025?

This was not good news for a defense that plummeted from fourth to 27th in the second half of the 2024 season in DVOA, FTN’s opponent-adjusted efficiency ratings. And with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles preparing for Kansas City in Week 2, it’s a very bad time for Spags’ defense to be so out of sorts. 

Two issues were readily apparent in the Chargers game, and they were each tied to the free agency departures of two veterans. Outside of Chris Jones, who had four total pressures when he was aligned inside the tackles, interior pressure was nonexistent. It’s already clear that the Chiefs will miss IDL Tershawn Wharton, who had nine sacks and 42 total pressures last season, and then signed a three-year, $45.5 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. 

The second issue — and this was a huge problem on Friday night — was the uncoordinated safety play.

Justin Reid had been Spags’ shot-caller in the back third for years, but after Reid signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the New Orleans Saints this offseason, Spags was left with Bryan Cook and Jaden Hicks as his safeties. Neither played particularly well, and Hicks was directly responsible for two of Herbert’s three touchdown passes because he couldn’t stay matched to his assignments – once it was Keenan Allen,and once it was Quentin Johnston. Spags calls more press coverage with his cornerbacks than any other coach in the NFL from year to year, so if your safeties aren’t communicating, you have a real problem. 

Steve Spagnuolo is one of the most brilliant defensive coaches in pro football history, and you have to believe that he’ll figure things out. But right now, it’s the defense that appears to be the Chiefs’ biggest problem, and we are not used to that in the Spags era in Kansas City, which goes back to the 2019 season.

The Chiefs need to fix this with a quickness.