The Saints requested a Kliff Kingsbury interview shortly after the regular season ended, but no meeting was ever scheduled. The Commanders’ OC received interest from other clubs as well but indicated he would not meet regarding any HC jobs until after his team’s season wrapped.
Washington’s remarkable turnaround ended in the NFC championship game, and the New Orleans job remains open. But Kingsbury is not interested. He will stay on as the Commanders’ OC for a second season, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. This decision will provide important continuity for Jayden Daniels as he attempts to follow up on one of the best rookie seasons in quarterback history.
Kingsbury’s stock has surged as a result of Daniels’ rookie-year form. The Washington play-caller has gone from being fired from his Arizona HC post, despite having signed an extension months earlier, to an assistant who will probably be a coveted option come 2026. While Kingsbury still wants a second HC chance, he will commit to waiting another year. This is quite the turnaround for a scrutinized coach whose Cardinals operation unraveled in a 4-13 2022 season.
The Bears and Saints sent Kingsbury interview requests January 9, and the Cowboys subsequently showed interest in the Texas native. While most who receive interview requests take those meetings, Kingsbury is being patient this time around. Already having an interesting past regarding NFL interest, Kingsbury has since seen Daniels adjust his thinking further. The potential superstar’s trajectory was rumored to be dissuading Kingsbury from leaving Washington so soon.
Kingsbury, 45, has already gone from being fired by a Big 12 program (Texas Tech) only to be hired as an NFL HC; the Cardinals formed that unusual path for Patrick Mahomes‘ college coach in 2019. Kingsbury did snap a five-year Cardinals playoff drought by guiding the 2021 team to the postseason, but his tenure turned after a woeful 2022.
The Cardinals fired Kingsbury and did not bring back longtime GM Steve Keim, rebooting and ultimately sending their HC back to the college ranks. Kingsbury catching on as USC’s position coach, where he mentored Caleb Williams, helped his stock. Several teams reached out with OC interview requests — to the point at least two teams offered jobs. Kingsbury backed out of a Raiders agreement and joined the Commanders, who are believed to have offered him a three-year deal.
Daniels is all but certain to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, Brock Bowers‘ record-setting season notwithstanding, and losing his play-caller after Year 1 would have introduced a hurdle. Kingsbury now will reset and prepare to further develop Washington’s dual-threat sensation, as other teams monitor him ahead of the 2026 HC carousel.
Kellen Moore, Mike McCarthy, Mike Kafka and Anthony Weaver represent those still believed to be vying for the Saints’ HC post. Kingsbury having a rising Commanders team as a fallback option proves important here, as the Saints are again standing alone in terms of cap space (or lack thereof, in New Orleans’ case) and they have an onerous Derek Carr contract to navigate. The Saints’ next HC will likely be tasked with finding a long-term QB solution either this year or next, and limited funds — a Saints staple — will impact this effort.
Kingsbury’s current team having found said answer will allow the experienced play-caller to keep rebuilding his stock. Although Bobby Slowik‘s C.J. Stroud partnership represents a cautionary tale here, Kingsbury will bet on Daniels keeping him in the HC mix beyond this year.
Who can blame him? Continual cap and QB issues will likely doom whoever takes this job.
I feel as though this record has played for the past 10 seasons. atleast in 2027 they will have 200m+ in cap space.
Likely less than that. Some of the $52M over the cap for 2025 will go into 2026 as reworked deal eroding the $60M available for 2026 and some of the $200M showing available for 2027. There are only 45 and 28 players under contract for 2026 and 2027 respectively. Do you trust Mickey Loomis to not break out another credit card and debt consolidation loan?
I think this gig has more upside then down side. Zero expectations until out of cap hell plus you pick your future QB instead of inheriting someone else’s.
The NO fan base is knowledge. They get it. They’ll give the new head coach plenty of wiggle room to right the ship.
Yep, continually kicking the can down the road, but the assets under management are considerably less every year. This has to be the worst team at managing the cap with no course correction in sight.
Or the best ♂️
Hahaha
Have they tried firing Trent Baalke?
You. Yes you. You reading this.
You should apply.
*help wanted sign hanging from Superdome*
I will do it…. I will do it cheap…. 3 year $6-8 million contract.
I would clear out the cap space. Carr back to the Raiders, Jordan to Buffalo/Baltimore/Detroit/ETC, Hill to Denver.
It’s Rattler time and he will get carpal tunnel handing off to Kamara, Williams, Miller, and a free agent.
After starting out 0-10, I would get fired and continue to get paid for two and half years.
I’ll do it for half that!
So would I…..
You are fired as my agent.
I’ll do it. First thing I’m going to do is try to help one of my players find a celebrity girlfriend, that way we get the same help as the Chiefs do.
Sold!
This is the kind of outside the box leadership they need!
I give Kingsbury credit for sticking around, albeit the remaining openings are not the most appealing. He could easily jump ship for his ego and take one of the spots. I’d expect if performance and progress continues, next off season he will have the pick of several teams that have a better situation.
Agreed. He is on a Ben Johnson path where he can pick his destination in the next couple of off seasons.
2nd Smartest move by Kliff. 1st one was marrying that smoke show girl
In other news, a ham sandwich is now the current favorite to be the Saints next head coach.
Update: the ham sandwich has asked to be removed from consideration.
This just in: an interview with a Saltine cracker is scheduled for 11 a.m. today.
It’s New Orleans, it would be a Shrimp Po’ Boy.
And it has also withdrawn.
I don’t know how a new coach can go in there with the cap situation and past behaviors and expect to succeed and also not get fired. I think if I was in such a position I would want a contract with a poison pill for being fired if the cap was still a disaster.