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Kliff Kingsbury

Kliff Kingsbury To Pass On Saints Interview, Will Stay With Commanders

January 28th, 2025 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Cowboys Have ‘Mutual Interest’ With Anthony Lynn For HC Job

January 20th, 2025 at 8:25pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been mentioned as an early contender for the Cowboys’ head coaching vacancy, but he may not want to leave Washington after his success with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Dallas may then pivot to Kingsbury’s run game coordinator and running backs coach, Anthony Lynn. He coached the same position for the Cowboys in 2005 and 2006 and later went 33-31 in four seasons as the Chargers’ head coach.

There is “mutual interest” between Lynn and the Cowboys, according to WFAA’s Ed Werner, putting another reunion on the table in Dallas. Former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has already interviewed for the head coaching job, and ex-players Deion Sanders and Jason Witten have also been mentioned as possibilities.

Lynn has not received serious head coaching consideration since he was fired by the Chargers after the 2020 season. He spent 2021 and 2022 as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, then moved onto San Francisco were he served as assistant head coach while also overseeing their running backs. He was in contention for the Commanders’ offensive coordinator gig in 2023, but lost out to Eric Bieniemy, who held the job for just one season.

A year later, Lynn was hired onto Kingsbury’s staff where the two put together one of the league’s top rushing attacks in 2024. The Commanders finished third in rushing yards, fourth in yards per carry, and fifth in rushing touchdowns during the regular season despite injuries to both Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. Lynn helped get the most out of Daniels, whose 891 rushing yards led the team and ranked second among all QBs this year.

Lynn won’t be available to interview with the Cowboys until at least next week. Neither will Kingsbury, as both coaches will be fully focused on extending the Commanders’ surprising playoff run.

Cowboys Expected To Expand HC Search; Kliff Kingsbury On Team’s Radar?

January 19th, 2025 at 9:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Given the timing on the decision to move on from Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys are slightly behind other head coach-needy teams around the NFL. A list of candidates has emerged over the past few days, but it could grow in the near future.

[RELATED: HC Search Tracker]

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Dallas is expected to speak with more potential hires over the coming days (video link). Once the divisional round concludes, several notable coaches will become eligible to conduct in-person interviews with the six teams still in need of a new HC. The Lions’ in-demand duo of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are among the staffers available to be hired at any time starting tomorrow, and to no surprise ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes they represent the next two dominoes to fall in the hiring cycle (video link).

Glenn was mentioned yesterday as a potential Cowboys target, but to date no connections have been made between Dallas and Johnson. A different candidate with an offensive background could be on the team’s radar, though. Rapoport names Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as someone who could receive an interview request from the Cowboys. Washington’s season is ongoing, of course, something which will delay the process by which he could land his next head coaching gig.

Kingsbury returned to the pro game this offseason by joining Dan Quinn‘s staff. The former Cardinals coach and USC staffer has drawn praise for the performance of the Commanders’ offense in general and the play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in particular. The Bears and Saints have submitted interview requests for the 45-year-old, while the Jaguars have also been mentioned as a potential suitor. Kingsbury made it clear last week he will not take part in any interviews (even virtual ones) until the Commanders’ season comes to an end.

The only remaining interview on the Cowboys’ docket as things stand is with Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier. Dallas was not among the teams to request an interview with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, although he is now off the market for at least one more year as a result of his Longhorns extension. It will be interesting to see which other targets emerge for the Dallas vacancy with an increased pool of candidates available.

For the time being, though, here is where things stand with the Cowboys:

Kliff Kingsbury Won’t Interview For HC Jobs Until After Commanders’ Season

January 16th, 2025 at 6:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Following a successful return to the NFL as the Commanders offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury is once again on the head coach radar. While Kingsbury has already been connected to a handful of jobs, it sounds like the former NFL journeyman isn’t in any rush to return to the top coaching job.

We heard earlier this week that the coach would be wary of leaving his current job in Washington considering the presence of QB Jayden Daniels. Kingsbury is apparently doubling down on his lack of urgency, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the current coordinator won’t take any head coaching interviews until after his team’s eliminated from the playoffs. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport backs up this report, noting that Kingsbury’s approach increases the chances of him returning to Washington in 2025.

Instead of the distraction of head coaching interviews, Kingsbury is fully focused on the Commanders upcoming playoff matchup against the Lions. While the Commanders obviously face an uphill battle against the NFC’s top team, Kingsbury could only help to improve his future HC chances with another successful playoff showing.

As Florio notes, Kingsbury also doesn’t have any financial urgency to return to the head coach role. The former Cardinals head coach is still being paid by the organization; the team famously fired Kingsbury less than a year after handing him a six-year extension. Kingsbury’s stint in Arizona saw its fair share of ups and downs, although he lost some of his shine after guiding the team to only one winning season and a single one-and-done playoff appearance through four years.

Since his firing, he’s done an admirable job of rehabbing his reputation. He spent the 2023 campaign at USC, where he worked closely with eventual first-overall pick Caleb Williams. Then, after getting hired as the Commanders new OC, he helped guide his squad to one of the best offensive outputs in team history. His 2024 success came with a rookie under center, as Daniels finished his first NFL season with 25 passing touchdowns and close to 900 yards rushing.

With Kingsbury having worked with two of the league’s brightest young stars, it’s no surprise that he’s back in the hiring cycle. As our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, the Bears and Saints have already requested interviews with the coordinator, and the Jaguars have also been mentioned as a potential suitor. There’s a chance that Kingsbury could be ready to interview with those organizations as soon as Sunday, but the coach is still risking those teams making a decision before he’s ready for a meeting.

2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

January 15th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-11-25 (11:40am CT)

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Jayden Daniels’ Presence Could Dissuade Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury From Taking HC Job

January 12th, 2025 at 9:07am CST by Rory Parks

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is once again a prominent name in head coaching rumors, thanks in large part to the work he has done with Washington’s rookie phenom, Jayden Daniels. The presence of the young passer could compel Kingsbury to remain in the nation’s capital and to eschew possible HC opportunities.

When asked earlier this month if he was ready to field questions related to his head coaching candidacy, Kingsbury smiled and said, “it would take a lot to leave this kid” (via ESPN’s John Keim). Of course, the “kid” in question is Daniels, who was effusive in his praise for his OC.

“He’s meant a lot, obviously, for my development and my growth from the day I stepped foot here to this point now,” Daniels said. “Just to be able to see and get to learn the type of person Kliff is on and off the field, it’s only helped our relationship grow.”

Keim’s expansive piece is well-worth a read for Commanders fans in particular, and in it, Kingsbury offers a few candid remarks as to why his first head coaching job with the Cardinals went south. He also says that working under Washington HC Dan Quinn has driven home the lessons he learned from his struggles in the desert.

“I don’t think I set the foundation [in Arizona] the way I would do it after watching [Quinn] and how he set the foundation from day one,” Kingsbury said. “These are the standards, this is what we want, this is what we’re going to be. I definitely could have done a better job of that.”

Following his Arizona ouster, Kingsbury travelled for several months and realized that, despite the struggles he endured at the end of his Cardinals tenure, he wanted to return to football. He served as a senior offensive analyst at the college level for USC in 2023 before accepting the Commanders’ OC gig this past offseason.

As Keim observes, Kingsbury’s role allows him to focus on running an offense and building a relationship with players, which are the aspects of the coaching profession that he enjoys the most. And the success that he and the club have had in the first year of the Daniels era – Washington posted a 12-5 record and qualified for the postseason – have led some to wonder whether he would want to dive back into the head coaching ranks so soon.

Indeed, reports from earlier this month suggested that, while Kingsbury does want to be a head coach again at some point, he may not be in a rush to leave his current position. And subsequent reporting noted that HC-needy clubs were gauging just how much interest Kingsbury has in accepting a new top job in this year’s cycle.

The Bears and Saints nonetheless submitted interview requests for Kingsbury, who has reportedly received interest from at least two other clubs. Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Kingsbury will move forward with the Chicago and New Orleans interviews this week (video link).

The Chicago post in particular has been rumored as a logical one for Kingsbury, as his one season at USC doubled as Caleb Williams’ final year at the school, and the two built a solid relationship during that time. Naturally, one of the Bears’ top priorities moving forward will be coaxing high-end production out of Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Even if the Bears, Saints, or some other team were to extend an offer, it is far from certain that Kingsbury would accept it. Like Lions OC Ben Johnson, whose performance over his time in Detroit has allowed him to be highly selective as to if and when he accepts an HC offer, Kingsbury is in a comfortable situation that has allowed him to rebuild his stock in a short amount of time. With Daniels looking every bit like the franchise passer Washington has sought for so long, the 45-year-old coach seemingly feels no pressure to leave his young protégé.

Kliff Kingsbury Receives HC Interview Requests From Bears, Saints

January 9th, 2025 at 8:53am CST by Sam Robinson

It seemed inevitable Kliff Kingsbury would move onto this year’s HC carousel. As Jayden Daniels appears weeks from an Offensive Rookie of the Year honor, the Commanders’ play-caller indeed will be summoned for interviews.

A Wednesday report pegged at least four teams as showing interest in Kingsbury for the position, and Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports the Bears and Saints have submitted official request to meet with him.

[RELATED: 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

A Bears meeting has been expected for a bit, and it will be rather interesting given the parties’ 2024 connection. The Bears met with Kingsbury about their OC job last year, only to hire Shane Waldron. The Kingsbury meeting also was interpreted as more fact-finding mission about Caleb Williams — whom Kingsbury coached during a 2023 stopover at USC — than true interview for the then-vacant coordinator post. Kingsbury’s stock has climbed since that meeting, and he will meet with Bears brass about their top coaching post.

The Saints have no ties to Kingsbury, which separates his candidacy from the likes of Aaron Glenn or Joe Brady, and they do not have a young quarterback like the HC-needy Bears or Jaguars do. The Saints’ perennially poor cap position also could be an issue for high-end HC candidates. Jacksonville has come up as a stealth Kingsbury suitor, and the AFC South team’s interest may become official soon. But New Orleans is hoping to speak with Kingsbury, 45, soon. Derek Carr is in line to come back for his age-34 season, and the team would be interested in hearing how the middling passer can launch a late-career surge.

While Bo Nix‘s strong season had threatened Daniels’ grip on the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for a stretch, the No. 2 overall pick closed the show in a manner that left little doubt about the outcome. The 2023 Heisman winner powered a rebuilding Commanders team to a 12-5 record, combining 3,568 passing yards with 891 on the ground. Daniels finished with 31 total touchdowns (six rushing) and placed fourth in regular-season QBR.

Daniels’ rapid ascent will give Kingsbury tremendous momentum, to the point the former Cardinals HC — fired months after signing an Arizona extension — could potentially be patient in Ben Johnson fashion. But Kingsbury’s Williams tie could prove important re: the Chicago job soon.

Kliff Kingsbury Receiving HC Interest From At Least Four Teams

January 8th, 2025 at 2:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has received interest from at least four teams for their head coaching vacancies, per veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson.

The former Cardinals head coach recently expressed his desire to return to a top job “at some point,” but he may not be in a rush to leave his situation in Washington. The Commanders made the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and quarterback Jayden Daniels is the odds-on favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year after blowing pre-draft expectations out of the water.

Other teams “are trying to fully ascertain how much Kingsbury really wants to be a head coach this cycle,” according to Anderson, which may be why he has yet to receive an interview request. The Bears and Jets have interviewed Kingsbury in the past and are expected to renew their interest this cycle. The Jaguars have also been mentioned as a team to watch.

Any of those teams will have to convince Kingsbury that his new situation will be comparable, if not an upgrade, over his current digs in Washington. The Bears and the Jaguars have their franchise quarterbacks, but the Jets will likely need to outline their plans under center to sway an offensive-minded coach like Kingsbury.

The Cardinals fired Kingsbury months after giving him a lengthy extension, and the former Texas Tech HC spent a year as Caleb Williams‘ position coach at USC. That tenure elevated Kingsbury’s stock, with multiple teams — including the Raiders, who offered him their play-calling job — conducting interviews. Kingsbury’s backtracking on the Las Vegas gig to coach Daniels has proven to the right play, and teams are proceeding somewhat cautiously regarding interviews for another top job.

Jaguars Preparing Aggressive Ben Johnson Pursuit; Kliff Kingsbury On Radar?

January 8th, 2025 at 1:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

1:38pm: Johnson will take the Jaguars’ meeting, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. Also confirming Johnson will follow through with Bears and Patriots meetings, Russini adds Johnson’s Jags summit will occur during the Lions’ bye week. Johnson has since received a Raiders interview request, but no word has emerged he will take that interview. The Saints and Jets have not requested interviews.

9:05am: The Jaguars have sent out an interview request for Lions OC Ben Johnson. It is not yet known if the three-year Detroit play-caller will take the meeting; as of now, he has been tied to the Bears and Patriots’ HC openings. But the Jags do intend to make an aggressive play here.

Despite firing an offense-oriented HC (Doug Pederson) on Black Monday, Jacksonville is believed to be “all in” on Johnson, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. Johnson has been notoriously selective, and that should be expected to continue. After all, the Lions’ 15-2 season will keep the 38-year-old OC in demand despite his having jumped off the 2023 and ’24 HC carousels early.

Joe Brady, Liam Coen, Kellen Moore and Todd Monken join Johnson among offense-oriented candidates on the Jags’ radar. Although no interview request has come out, Pauline adds Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury is a name to monitor here. The former Cardinals HC said he is interested in returning to a top job, even though his first such chance ended badly. Jayden Daniels‘ presence would stand to allow Kingsbury to be choosey as well.

No Kingsbury interviews are on any team’s docket, and no team has requested one yet. That adds some mystery here, though the Bears — after meeting with Caleb Williams‘ 2023 QBs coach at USC for their OC position last year — are expected to huddle up with him once again at some point. Kingsbury elevating Trevor Lawrence would be the Jags’ hope here, as that will be perhaps the franchise’s chief aim after a 4-13 season.

One matter that could stand in the way of the Jags adding a hotshot offense-based candidate, Trent Baalke‘s status continues to be a talking point around the league. A Tuesday report indicated certain candidates would steer clear of the Jacksonville job because Baalke was retained, but Pauline indicates the fifth-year Jags GM might not be long for the position. Some around the NFL view Baalke’s retention as a way for Shad Khan to receive assistance in hiring the next HC and then see the embattled GM kick himself to another role within the organization.

GMs have transitioned to other jobs within buildings before, as Rich McKay and John Elway‘s transitions in the not-so-distant past remind. Baalke, 60, has also shown an ability to stick around when many expected an ouster. Baalke has been GM (of the 49ers and Jaguars) during the tenures of five HCs. That number reaching six should not be ruled out, but a scenario in which Baalke changes jobs while another GM is hired appears on the radar, at least.

That would stand to help the Jags with a Johnson pursuit, as a candidate with options certainly may express reservations about being tied to an in-house GM. For now, that would remain the case. But a Jags aggressive pursuit of the Lions’ OC probably includes flexibility in the GM role.

Kliff Kingsbury Wants Another HC Opportunity

January 3rd, 2025 at 11:19pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has put together an excellent debut season in Washington; his offense is ranked fourth in yards and fifth in points, while quarterback Jayden Daniels is the runaway favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Kingsbury’s success in Washington has placed him among the top head-coaching candidates in this offseason’s hiring cycle and seems open to another opportunity after a disappointing four seasons leading the Cardinals.

When asked about the subject on Thursday, Kingsbury said that he would want to be a head coach again “at some point,” (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post), though he declined to comment on potential interviews this year.

Kingsbury is an obvious candidate for the Bears’ vacant head coaching position after serving as a senior offensive analyst at USC during Caleb Williams‘ final college season. The two have a “solid relationship,” according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, which will be crucial to getting the most out of the 2024 No. 1 overall pick after a false start of a rookie year.

Kingsbury is expected to interview in Chicago, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, though he may not be in a rush to leave Washington. His contract with the Cardinals ran through 2027, so Kingsbury is still drawing a head coach’s salary in addition to his current pay from the Commanders. That gives him the flexibility to be “selective” – like Lions OC Ben Johnson – with his next opportunity, per Fowler.

Kingsbury also enjoys working with Daniels under Dan Quinn in Washington, according to Breer, and the Commanders could be even better in 2025 after their surprising playoff run this season. That would boost Kingsbury’s coaching stock further, potentially setting him up for an even better opportunity a year or two down the line.

Kingsbury may also draw renewed interest from the Jets after interviewing for their head coaching job in 2019. He impressed the Johnson family during his interview process, per Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated, though it’s worth noting that owner Woody Johnson was serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom at the time. Kingsbury opted to join the Cardinals, but he could once again find himself on the Jets’ shortlist this time around.

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