With the postseason officially off the table for the Kansas City Chiefs, the most pragmatic of fans are calling for the team to tank with three games remaining. After all, a win or loss doesn't matter at this point, so the franchise might as well aim for better draft position.
Steve Spagnuolo says that's not happening. The Chiefs defensive coordinator says that competition is in his blood, and he knows the same holds true for the rest of the roster as well as the team's coaching staff. Thus, as the Chiefs prepare to visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 16, the game plan is calling for the most talented players to take the field. The strategy is as simple as that.
The news will be frustrating for fans who are calling for the Chiefs to lean into a full youth movement with three games left on the schedule. The idea being that K.C. might as well see what it has for next season. If the playoffs are out of reach, then there's no reason to let veterans stand in the way of rookies or developmental players.
Spagnuolo admits that younger players might get to play versus Tennessee but that's largely due to the team's myriad injury concerns. "Listen, we want to finish strong here. We’ll take one game at a time and play really well in this game, so we’re going to put guys out there to do that," he said in remarks to the press on Thursday.
When asked about a few of the younger players who could make an appearance, Spagnuolo had differing answers. For defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, a preseason pickup who was recently signed from the practice squad to the active roster, Spags said he wasn't sure whether or not he would play.
The Chiefs' defensive coordinator made it clear that he's focused on getting a victory over the Titans, even if it means playing veterans instead of younger players.
"We’ll see. We got him up to the 53. We’ll see if we get him to game day. But this could be an opportunity to see someone weahven’t seen yet. But again, the focus is going to be to prevent as many points by Tennessee’s offense as possible. That’s our job," said Spagnuolo.
Rookie linebacker Jeffrey Bassa has been healthy and available for 14 games, but the Chiefs' fifth-round pick has only gotten special teams reps. That still sounds like it will be the case going forward, although Spags spoke positively about his future.
"He’s been playing special teams, obviously. We haven’t seen any reason to pull the other guys out. Hopefully, everybody stays healthy and it doesn’t become an injury thing. But I have a lot of confidence in Jeff. I was talking to him the other day. The growth process as a weakside linebacker in just in walk-throughs now—we haven’t seen him in a game since preseason—but I’m real hopeful for Jeff going forward."
One younger player who seems to have a big fan in Spagnuolo is defensive end Ashton Gillotte, a third-round choice out of Louisville who has earned more playing time as the season has progressed. Most recently, Gillotte has outsnapped starter Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu, and it's clear the Chiefs like his long-term potential.
"I think he’s on a great trajectory as far as what you want to get out of a rookie, a young guy. He’s around some veterans, I think, that have been a real big help to him. I think he’s got some versatility that maybe, going forward, we can do some different things with him. Right now, he’s getting as many reps as we can get him. I’d like to get him more in these next three games, because I think he can do some things for us. But I’m real happy with what he’s done so far."
Even if a win doesn't matter, the Chiefs are still chasing one in Nashville on Sunday afternoon against the Titans. Fans can only hope some players who will be around in 2026 are given a chance to contribute to that end.