Three years ago, a crushing loss at home in the AFC Championship left the Kansas City Chiefs to overhaul their defense. The coaching staff was replaced — and so were many of the veteran starters. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was hired — and the signings of Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu followed.
That decision paid off handsomely — with two Super Bowl appearances and a championship — but three seasons later, expiring contracts and other salary-cap considerations may lead to another defensive transition.
It won’t be as drastic.