In 2017, the New York Giants let Steve Spagnuolo walk after leading one of the worst defenses in the league and finishing out the season as the team’s interim head coach. In 2018, he was out of football completely.

But then Andy Reid came calling and Spagnuolo made his return, joining the offensively explosive Kansas City Chiefs as their defensive coordinator.

It’s that explosive offense that has led the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV — their first trip to the Big Game in 50 years — but Spagnuolo’s job with the defense should not be overlooked. And his ability to come up big on the grandest stage? Yeah, that shouldn’t be overlooked, either.

Spagnuolo inherited a defense that finished 31st overall in 2018 and while they haven’t done a complete 180, they finished this past regular season 17th overall. That was enough of a difference to propel the entire organization forward.

Now Spagnuolo has a chance to relive his greatest accomplishment, which came in 2007 when he devised a remarkable gameplan that essentially shut down Tom Brady and the then-perfect New England Patriots.

The San Francisco 49ers may not be those New England Patriots, but every game is its own unique challenge and nothing about this contest will come easy. And as electrifying as the Chiefs may be offensively, defense wins championships and that’s what the 49ers are currently riding.

It will be up to Spagnuolo to keep San Francisco out of the endzone, ensuring Patrick Mahomes and the team’s offense don’t consistently operate from behind, even though they’ve shown a remarkable ability to bounce-back in the blink of an eye.

Will Spagnuolo get the job done and earn his second ring? Time will tell, but Giants Nation will certainly be rooting for him.