Chiefs Coordinator Quotes
August 6, 2025
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO
OPENING STATEMENT: “Well, a little bit of a shift in gears today, a sudden change, but I thought the guys did a pretty good job. I know (Head Coach) Andy’s (Reid) the same way I am, he always worries about coming in here on the turf, but I do think they came in and played fast. So that was a good thing, but with that I’ll just open it up.”
Q: How do you feel about where the defensive unit is at headed into the first preseason game?
SPAGNUOLO: “I’m one of those guys that’s never really satisfied with where we’re at. I know we still (have) a lot of work to do. We still (have) to figure out some of the things the new guys can and can’t do. That’s kind of what I have my eyes on right now. I think the game will give us a little bit more info on that. Sometimes when you go against the same people all the time, you get a little bit of an upper hand on both sides of the ball. So, we’re looking forward to this game.”
Q: How has Chris Roland-Wallace’s role evolved, and how does it compare to the work you’ve done with Chamarri Conner?
SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, very similar. C-Ro (Chris Roland-Wallace) is kind of taking on that same role that Chamarri (Conner) has done for us. The interesting thing, if I go back to last year, I think we had him (Chris Roland-Wallace) at safety out of need last year and found out he could do those things, and then eventually he evolved (to) becoming a nickel. You’ve been here the whole time. He’s made a lot of plays. We look for production in our guys. I’d like to see him against another team, obviously, so we look forward to see what he does against Arizona.”
Q: On Ashton Gillotte.
SPAGNUOLO: “It feels like he’s (Ashton Gillotte) getting more comfortable. We’re throwing him in there, sometimes with the ones, so he’s around Nick (Bolton) and he’s around Chris (Jones), and some of the other guys and I think that gives him a little bit of confidence. I’ve been really impressed with what he’s done to this point – I’m interested to see him during the game, too.”
Q: What do you want to see out of this preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals?
SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, it’s always for me, it’s like, the basic one is tackle. Probably even before that, I would say, ‘block destruction’. So, I’m always going to be preaching, ‘guys, let’s find a way to get off blocks and tackle’. The rest will take care of itself, and we’ll build from there. But, if we’re not doing that in game one, then I’ll be concerned. You (have) to go back to step one, etc., etc.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
August 6, 2025
TE TRAVIS KELCE
Q: A lot of teammates have complimented you on your work ethic at training camp. Why is it so important for you to continue to have a high work ethic here?
KELCE: “Trying to win Super Bowls man. It’s the only way you get there. I think it starts in the offseason, and kind of – when you get out here to St. Joe, and you get into training camp, man, it really signifies coming together, the chemistry (and) the culture you need to have to keep getting better every single day, every single week throughout the year (and) hopefully playing your best football by December, January and February.”
Q: It seems like more guys are coming to you more now than ever, how much do you embrace that?
KELCE: “I’ve been lucky to be here. What is this my 13th year now? I just absolutely love this organization. I love the team. I love all the coaches. I know just about every defensive coach as well as I know all of the offensive coaches and vice versa with the players and the staff in the equipment room. I just, I have fun coming in to work every single day, and what better way to get better than to make sure we lean on each other? And if I can give somebody a word that makes them better on that specific route or doing that specific drill, man I’m here for it.”
Q: What does it mean to you to see the program evolve into what it is today?
KELCE: “I think that gives me more juice than, than you know, than anything else is the fact that we have created this culture, we have created this machine that when you do it the right way, it works, and you get to win football games because of it. I think that alone kind of gives you the excitement that what we’re doing here is special.”
FB CARSON STEELE
Q: On what he focused on during the offseason.
STEELE: “I would say work a lot more of my fullback role (and) special teams as well as keeping the running back side of me. I kind of talked about it last year, being a Swiss Army knife and kind of doing everything but kind of taking that to the next step this year.”
Q: On if he wanted to switch to the fullback position or if Head Coach Andy Reid prompted it.
STEELE: “Overall, I would say mine, just because having that extra tool in the bag to be able to do. I would assume that’s something he (Head Coach Andy Reid) would probably want me to do as well, blocking wise just because I had never done that in college. I have done a little bit of blocking from that fullback/running back spot but never truly had done it.”
Q: On what he has seen from the rookie class.
STEELE: “There are some great athletes in this class. You know there are a lot of guys, kind of like steal type of guys. Went under the radar here and there but they’ve (the rookies) really showed out in camp, and I’m super excited for that. They’ve really stepped up and not acted as a rookie. They’ve really came in here, put in some work and got to it.”
CB NAZEEH JOHNSON
Q: On the guidance he received from Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in the offseason.
JOHNSON: “Oh they (the defensive coaching staff) just challenged me, you know? They just (were) like they need that dog back. Stop worrying about messing up, (just) be bold and be great. So, I just took that (in), in the offseason and challenged myself. Why not me?”
Q: There seems to be a lot of interchanging of the cornerback roles between the players; how important is it for you guys to know all three roles?
JOHNSON: “Yeah, I mean he (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) is going to interchange us on, you know, personnel packages and stuff like that. So, all of us knowing the different roles from nickel to left, right corner, and everything changes. But (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags is a mastermind at that. It’s hard for teams to really get a gauge on who’s going to be where, so shout out to Spags.”
Q: One of the things that we’ve heard throughout camp is how fast the wide receivers are, how fast actually is this current group of wide receivers?