Spaeth graduated from St. Michael-Albertville, in St. Michael, Minnesota in 2002, where he played both football and basketball.

Spaeth went on to start 10 games where he had 12 catches for 98 yards and was named to the Sportingnews.com and Rivals.com Freshman All-American team.

[4] Spaeth started the season primarily on the goal line package and special teams.

[8] At the end of the 2010 season, Spaeth and the Steelers appeared in Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers.

[9] As an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season, Spaeth signed with the Chicago Bears, who then traded away tight end Greg Olsen.

[10][11] Spaeth scored his first touchdown catch with the Bears in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons on a one-yard pass from Jay Cutler.

[12] On March 13, 2013, Spaeth was released by the Bears,[13] being the last Bear to wear number 89, which was retired on December 8, 2013, in honor of tight end and Super Bowl XX winning head coach Mike Ditka.