Chiefs Coordinator Quotes
October 9, 2025
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH AND SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB
Q: How difficult was it to watch the tape against Jacksonville.
TOUB: “There was a lot of good things. I was really proud of the way Brashard (Smith) hit that return. There were a lot of positives. I mean, obviously, the penalties hurt us and (it was) upsetting, but there were a lot of good things though too at the same time. Matt Araiza had a really good game punting. I thought (Harrison) Butker made all of his field goals, obviously, he had the one kick out of bounds that – I mean that was a mistake, he made a mistake. That’s where we are.”
Q: On Brashard Smith’s return that was called back.
TOUB: “Yeah, I mean I think Brashard Smith keeps getting better and better each week and it was really good to see. He hit that return and he was north and south in a hurry. I’m not sure if I’m glad if he didn’t score because it would’ve been even worse. It was a great return nonetheless, and we’re going to build on that and look at the positives.”
Q: On Detroit’s special teams.
TOUB: “Very good. I know I stand up here every week and say but this is a top 10 unit, for sure. Coached well, (Lions Special Teams Coordinator) Dave Fipp does a great job. (Lions WR) Kalif Raymond is probably one of the best punt returners in the league, former Pro Bowler. He’s coming off an injury. We’ll see if he plays. If he’s in there, he is very dangerous. He does a good job coaching. These guys play hard, I mean really hard, and it starts with their head coach (Dan Campbell) on down obviously. They’re a tough unit, and we’re going to have to really step it up this week.”
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO
OPENING STATEMENT: “I’m not going to go back on too much. Certainly, disappointed in the way last week worked out from a defensive standpoint. We get in that position (and) we hope to end the game and win it so very disappointed. We’ve moved on, this next team we’re getting ready to play (is) every bit as good as the one we played (and) maybe better, so all our focus is on that and with that I’ll open it up.”
Q: On the last defensive play of the game.
SPAGNUOLO: “It’s a weird deal. Yeah, it’s a weird deal. We always talk about never assume. Like I’m talking about on a first and 10 play, backside corner, don’t assume he’s (Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence) down. Don’t assume your buddy is going to get him tackled, and I think guys just got caught up in the moment (and) thought he was down. It didn’t work out that way, and I think we’ll all learn from it and we’ve moved and hopefully that doesn’t happen again.”
Q: On the Detroit Lions.
SPAGNUOLO: “You see it, he’s got a lot of weapons, and the guy pulling the trigger out there is pretty good. He’s (Lions QB Jared Goff) really accurate. Is top in a lot of different things. I flashed them up the other day. This is the number one scoring offense in the NFL or was at least a week ago. I don’t know where they’re now. I’m sure they’re still up there. Our thing, always our number one goal going into this thing is to limit points allowed, and it’ll be the same focus with all the weapons that they (Detroit Lions) have. We’re going to have to pick and choose who we quote-unquote try to take away and then some guys are going to have to do some heavy lifting on their own.”
Q: On Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
SPAGNUOLO: “I’m glad you brought him (Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard) up. I think the world of Kelvin (Sheppard). When he played for us in New York those two years, he was our Nick Bolton. They’re very similar. Those guys are kind of cut from the same cloth. I said to Kelvin at the time – I didn’t think he was thinking about coaching when he got done playing. I said: ‘I think you’d make a heck of a football coach.’ Two or three years I think he stayed out of it. He got the bug. I think he went down to LSU first, and there were times that we talked about Kelvin and trying to get him here. I think he is doing a terrific job, and I’m really happy for him. I’m really proud of him.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGY
Q: The offensive efficiency is up. What are you seeing that is working for the offense?
NAGY: “I agree with that. I think we always want to make sure that – we go back to two weeks ago and you heard me mention (something) about an identity and I think we’re getting closer to that, I still think we are working through some things but part of getting Xavier (Worthy) back is a big part of it which is great. But in the end, the only thing that matters is that win. You go back to the middle of that game, we had two three and outs there at the end of the half and in the start of the third (quarter) – which the last couple games we have been good at the start of the third quarter. This one we went three and out, followed by an 11 or 12 play drive that ended with a pick six. So that was a 14-point swing so there is good within there that we’re doing, and we like that (and) we can build. It’s the situational stuff when you have a game like that, that you want to take advantage of (and) we didn’t do that. I think the beauty of who we are, is we stick together, we learn from it and we got to correct it.”
Q: How daunting is the Lions defense?
NAGY: “They’re tough. I look at these guys on tape (and) you see them on tv and word that comes to mind is relentless. Their motor goes nonstop, and I think they work off of each other, that defense in general. I mean they get one sack, and they’re looking to get that second sack. If it is a pressure. Relentless is the thing that keeps coming into mind for me, so we want to make sure they’re not relentless on Sunday night.”
Q: What did the last Chiefs scoring drive say about your team?
NAGY: “It spoke volumes to where we’re at right now. We talked about it as a team, just making sure these guys understand when adversity hits, what type of team are we? So, you can take that to the offensive side and say, do we point the finger at the defense (or) does the defense point the finger at us? None of that. I think to (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid and what he has built here, the culture of togetherness. The sideline the last couple of games has been phenomenal, and so we wanted to do our part by giving up that pick six and going down there and making sure we put together a good drive. Right before that the defense got a pick, so we took advantage of that so its complementary football, and I was proud of the guys for that but we want more and we know in the end none of that stuff matters other than just winning. We don’t care how ugly or pretty it is, we want to win.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
October 9, 2025
DT CHRIS JONES
Q: On the last Jacksonville Jaguars touchdown.
JONES: “It’s a teaching point for me. A little adversity. I can’t think the play is over, you know what I mean? It’s a learning lesson. I thought it was over, I thought we had him (Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence) down so I kind of stopped and was about to celebrate and then realized that he wasn’t down and you know a teaching lesson for me is don’t stop.”
Q: How motivated are you for Sunday night against the Lions?
JONES: “I’ve been focused on the Lions since the game. You can’t hold your head on one play or one game. It’s a week in and week out thing. You learn from it, you take notes, you take the good (and) you take the bad. It’s never really as good as it seems (and) it’s never really as bad as it seems. You just take the good with the bad and you keep pushing.”
Q: On the Detroit Lions offensive line.