The Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) received a semi-bye in Week 18 after securing the AFC’s No. 3 seed. Andy Reid, the Chiefs’ head coach, rested many of his team’s key starters and still upset the Los Angeles Chargers 13–12.
However, the Chiefs did not learn their Wild Card round opponent until the Buffalo Bills upset the Miami Dolphins 21-14 on Sunday Night Football. With this loss, the Dolphins missed out on winning the AFC East, a title the team hasn’t had in 15 years. Instead of being the second seed and having home field advantage, Miami will go to Kansas City for the first round of the playoffs.
He spent two seasons with UA before leaving for a three-year stint at Clemson. Steele returned to Alabama in 2014, first as director of player personnel, then as linebackers coach. Steele’s longest departure was when he ran Auburn’s defense from 2016-20, including a stint as interim head coach when Gus Malhzan was fired.
Steele returned to Saban’s staff last February, providing stability. Alabama’s defense ranked 16th nationally in scoring ahead of the national title game and is likely to produce multiple NFL draft picks in Kool-Aid McKinstry, Dallas Turner and the ascending Terrion Arnold, Chris Braswell and Justin Eboigbe.
Steele was jokingly credited by players and Saban for stepping up while doctors advised Saban not to yell as much during the season. But his overall halftime adjustments, leading to game-changing turns, and ability to fit within Saban’s system made him a seamless addition to the booth, especially compared to the fresh-faced Tommy Rees.
Steele also managed to side-step controversy when Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin assumed play-calling duties had been transferred to UA secondary Travaris Robinson. Steele again deferred, noting the team’s true coordinator is Saban, widely known for his defensive acumen.
“Kevin’s done a really good job. He’s in the box, so he has a really good perspective of what we didn’t do correctly, what we need to fix. What’s not working, what might work better,” Saban said about Steele this past season.
Now, Alabama will need to find a second defensive coordinator in as many years. It marks the first time Saban has a defensive coordinator last just one season.Internal candidates include Robinson, who’s considered a stellar recruiter and has extensive SEC experience (Florida, Auburn, South Carolina) and Freddie Roach, who’s coached the defensive line since 2020. Charles Kelly is Auburn’s co-defensive coordinator after a year at Colorado. Kelly spent 2019-22 with Tuscaloosa as associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
