- Oct 16, 2026
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Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo faces a formidable challenge Sunday night against Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning AP offensive player of the year.
Smith-Njigba enters the matchup leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Through six games, the Seahawks wideout has accumulated 49 catches for 717 yards and seven scores. His season low came Oct. 4 against the Chargers, when he still managed five receptions for 76 yards.
Spagnuolo offered high praise for the receiver, calling him "elite, really elite."
The Chiefs coordinator has existing connections within the Seattle organization. He counts Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald as a friend and also knows assistant head coach Leslie Frazier.
Kansas City's defense will aim to slow Smith-Njigba when the Chiefs visit the Seahawks for the Sunday night contest.
Source: ProFootballTalk - Fri Oct 23, 11:02 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).