The Washington Commanders are embarking on a new era. With new GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn in place, the team’s coaching staff has begun to take shape. According to NFL insider Peter Schrager, former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has agreed to terms to become the offensive coordinator of the Commanders.
Kingsbury initially agreed to become the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator under head coach Antonio Pierce. However, talks broke down, potentially after news surfaced of Quinn’s hire with Washington.
Kingsbury withdrew from consideration with the Raiders to become available for other opportunities and immediately emerged as the lead candidate for the Commanders’ opening. Now, he has become Quinn’s fire big hire in Washington.
Kingsbury has a great deal of experience. He was a sixth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 2002. After his playing career spanned to the Canadian Football League, he entered the coaching ranks. Ultimately, he became an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Houston and Texas A&M.
He was the head coach at Texas Tech for six seasons with a 35-40 record and two bowl appearances. After getting fired in 2018, Kingsbury became the Cardinals head coach the following year with Kyler Murray’s arrival.
Unfortunately, he struggled as a head coach in the NFL, going 28-37-1 before getting fired after the 2022 season.
Last year, he was a senior offensive analyst at USC, coaching potential No. 1 overall pick quarterback Caleb Williams. Kingsbury’s arrival to the nation’s capital will brew speculation of the Commanders going after Williams. Williams is a native of D.C.
Washington holds the second overall pick in April’s draft. The Chicago Bears are currently sitting at No. 1. The Bears have a first-round QB, Justin Fields, entering his fourth year as a pro next season. It’s unclear if the Bears will draft Williams and trade Fields or trade the No. 1 pick to hold on to Fields.
Nonetheless, the scenario is intriguing, and until something shakes, the links between Kingsbury, Washington, and Williams will magnify.
Kliff Kingsbury is a young innovator, looking to develop whoever the Commanders choose to select at No. 2, either Williams, Drake Maye or 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.
