Kliff Kingsbury was expected to be a popular name on the offensive coordinator circuit, but it sounds like the former Cardinals head coach has no interest in returning to the NFL at the moment. Per Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com (via Twitter), multiple teams have reached out to Kingsbury about their OC vacancies. However, the coach has told inquiring teams that he “bought a one way ticket to Thailand” and has no interest in interviewing at the moment.
[RELATED: Cardinals Fire HC Kliff Kingsbury]
Following a one-and-done playoff performance — his first postseason appearance in three seasons in Arizona — Kingsbury found himself firmly on the hot seat entering the 2022 campaign. We heard in December that the head coach was feuding with starting QB Kyler Murray, requiring passing game coordinator Cam Turner to serve as a buffer between the two. Kingsbury was also described as “miserable” as he dealt with injuries and a belief that he wasn’t provided the necessary resources to succeed.
Still, when the head coach was ultimately fired by the Cardinals, he was described as “surprised and distraught.” Considering the chaos and the ensuing fallout, it isn’t a huge surprise that Kingsbury will take some time to refresh. His four-year stint as Arizona’s head coach was preceded by a six-year stint as Texas Tech’s head coach.
If Kingsbury wanted to return to coaching, it sounds like he could have landed on his feet relatively quickly. We heard earlier this week that the Patriots had done some homework on Kingsbury, who was drafted by the organization back in 2003. The Patriots revealed earlier this week that they’ll begin offensive coordinator interviews following a 2022 season that saw Matt Patricia and Joe Judge lead the way.
His Thailand comments notwithstanding, Kingsbury could have real financial motivation to get back into the coaching mix as soon as possible. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes, coaching contracts typically include language that requires a fired coach to actively seek alternate employment in order to earn the rest of the money they would have been due under the contract. Assuming Kingsbury’s contract with the Cardinals included similar provisions, then team ownership may have grounds to avoid paying him if he voluntarily (and brazenly) keeps himself off the market.
This is hysterical. Cash that check screw the cardinals.
Cash those checks for the next 4(?) years!
Yep, put in an application at Taco Bell in Thailand and call it good.
6 months at a really nice resort would be nice. The one that you have a private hut with maid service they will deliver your meals or you can go to one of the restaurants. I think that would wash the stink of working for Bidwell and that group. Not sure if Kingsbury is an NFL level coach or not. Needs to go back to the college level and have some success. Then try to comeback and see.
TT: in six seasons went 35-40 (46.7%), with one winning season.
AZ: In four seasons went 28-37-1 (43.2%), one winning season
Cardinals got exactly what they hired and paid for: MEDIOCRITY. Got ‘em again, Klifford.
Keep failing up…he may just be commissioner some day
He is doing the teams requesting him a favor. “ Air Raid Offense.” It was a JOKE.
It’s amazing how most people are blaming just him when there’s been plenty of players on and now off the team that Murray was the major problem from his attitude and work ethic not to mention he’s small
I think Murray is a cancer. I don’t know but there are too many reports from players saying it. Maybe he is.
I’m an OU alumni (Class ‘87) but I’ve never once been delusional enough to mistake Kyler “Baby Legs” Murray for an NFL QB
He’s believed his own press hype since he was a Sooner
I tell people he looks like a cartoon character when he runs the little legs are running so fast the are a blur. He should have a name like Minney Blight.
The Bidwell’s solution to chronic losing has always been to relocate. Perhaps Kingsbury has been sent into the Asian wilderness to scout out the next landing site.
Huh? They’ve owned the team for 60 years, and only moved once.
STL to Phoenix and then Phoenix to Arizona. Duh.
@17bananas17 I guess you are trying to make fun of crosseyed? Hopefully? You never know on these sites. People can be pretty freaky.
Got to love stories that end with totally hypothetical info. How about u go find out if there’s language in his contract that would keep him from getting paid. I mean, u chose to write this story. That info is critical to the basis of the entire story. It’s just lazy
The only way they get out of paying him the rest of his contract is if he becomes a NFL head coach or OC it why the pats didn’t make fat boy and clueless judge a title
“fully guaranteed for 5 years at $7.5M annually.”
And..
“Bidwill’s subsequent pattern of having to pay contracts for years after those coaches and assistant coaches were fired has perpetuated”….
link to revengeofthebirds.com
What a tone deaf org. They had to know there was a problem Murray and that Kingsbury was questionable as a HC. Did they think throwing a ton of money at the problem would fix it. Usually that makes it worse. I think it would be funny for him to do whatever he can to collect every penny. Heck go coach in HS do whatever it takes.
Bought a one way ticket to Thailand haha. Heck, he could of asked Cards fans to do that for him a couple weeks ago.
Kingsbury sounds like he has his head screwed on straight. After four years of madness and endless stress, he will take a year to decompress and rejuvenate his health.
There’s be less heart attacks at 47 and 52 if more men in high stress jobs would take better care of themselves. The NFL will still be there in 2024 and still need OC. Or perhaps Kingsbury will do something else entirely with his life. He’s young, rich and intelligent. It’s a great starting point for the rest of his life.