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For the first time as NFL head coaches, Sean McVay and Kliff Kingsbury will square off on Sunday. The two are close off the field, but this will be the first time they face each other on opposing sidelines.
Kingsbury nearly joined McVay’s staff last offseason after he was fired by Texas Tech, but instead opted for the Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy after accepting a job as USC’s offensive coordinator.
On Wednesday, Kingsbury said he was “close” to joining the Rams, even after the USC opening came about.
"To learn under Sean would have been huge and just didn't work out," Kingsbury said.
5/
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) November 27, 2019
Of course, Kingsbury found himself in a great spot with the Cardinals as their head coach, and he credits his current job to McVay. He told Arizona media members that if not for McVay, he wouldn’t be in this position.
#K2 On if he and Rams Head Coach Sean McVay have talked during the season:
“Even when I got this job in the division, he was really helpful with me. I wouldn’t have this job if it weren’t for him.” pic.twitter.com/nBqdvGS0zs
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) November 27, 2019
On a conference call with Rams media, he discussed further how helpful McVay has been during his transition to the NFL.
“Sean was great. Even though we’re in the same division, anything that I needed once I got the job – questions, thoughts, giving real advice – he was great,” Kingsbury said. “That’s just the type of person that he is – those of you that have been around him. We haven’t talked much during the season – both of us have jobs in the same division – but, he knows that I’m always cheering for him 14 out of 16 games and I’m sure he’s doing the same.”
Kingsbury and the Cardinals can play spoiler on Sunday afternoon against the Rams. A win would drop Los Angeles to 6-6 on the year, effectively ending any playoff hopes McVay’s squad had.
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