Tag: Kliff Kingsbury

Kliff Kingsbury joining Washington Commanders leads to instant Caleb Williams speculation

It’s the question everyone is asking: Will the Commanders make the Chicago Bears an offer they can’t refuse?

You’re thinking about it. We’re thinking about it. Everyone is thinking about it. Will the Washington Commanders move up from the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft to the No. 1 spot and take Caleb Williams? Will they trade up to the Chicago Bears and give Chicago an offer the organization simply cannot turn down? The speculation surrounding the Commanders has reached a fever pitch after Kliff Kingsbury, part of USC’s 2023 coaching staff, joined Washington as its new offensive coordinator. Pairing Kingsbury with Caleb is the big talking point in NFL draft circles right now.

Commanders Wire is paying attention:

“Kingsbury, 44, is a former college head coach and NFL head coach and had a three-year NFL playing career. He’s coached quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murry and Caleb Williams over the years.

“With Washington holding to the No. 2 overall pick, Kingsbury’s appointment quickly led to speculation about the Commanders moving up to No. 1.”

If the Commanders really do want to trade up to No. 1, they will need to make it worthwhile for the Bears. Keep in mind that Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are available as options for Chicago if Washington trades up for Caleb. If Chicago really does think Caleb is a far better quarterback prospect, we won’t see a deal, but if the Bears think Maye or Daniels can do the job, then a trade seems to be the more likely outcome. Stay tuned!

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Kliff Kingsbury, after changing his mind on the Raiders, takes the Commanders’ OC job

Kingsbury to DC, not Vegas. It’s quite a shift in the coaching carousel.

Kliff Kingsbury changing his mind? It happened at USC in 2018. Kingsbury agreed to become USC’s offensive coordinator under then-coach Clay Helton but then jumped ship before coaching a single game for the Trojans. He took the open head coaching job with the Arizona Cardinals. He lasted through the 2022 NFL season. Then he was fired in Arizona. He became an offensive analyst for Lincoln Riley at USC in 2023. We all knew he wouldn’t stay beyond that one year. Kingsbury was reportedly about to become the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator, but he backed out of an agreement. He has now finally found his landing spot with the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator.

Commanders Wire has more on the story:

“Kingsbury first appeared on the radar Saturday as a possible candidate, as many believed he had agreed to terms to become the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. However, the two sides couldn’t reach a deal, Kingsbury began looking elsewhere, and the Raiders hired former Bears OC Luke Getsy.”

This move will obviously increase speculation that the Commanders, who have the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, will try to trade up to No. 1 and select Caleb Williams to pair him with Kingsbury, who worked with Caleb this past year at USC. The Chicago Bears have the top pick. Most experts think Chicago will keep the pick, but Washington might make the Bears an offer they can’t refuse. We will see what unfolds.

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Kliff Kingsbury to return to Arizona in 2024 as Commanders’ OC

Kingsbury is the new OC in Washington, working with head coach Dan Quinn. The Cardinals host the Commanders in 2024.

Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is back in the NFL. After it appeared he was going to be the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders last week, contract talk broke down. However, he has already landed another position. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kingsbury has been hired as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.

He now works for new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, formerly the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.

Kingsbury will likely be given weapons to work with. The Commanders have the second pick in the 2024 NFL draft and roughly $70 million in cap space. He will likely get to coach a top rookie quarterback like he did when he became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.

Kingsbury will get to face the Cardinals. The Commanders will play the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in 2024, giving Kingsbury a homecoming of sorts and a revenge game.

Kingsbury was 28-37-1 in four seasons and took the Cardinals to the playoffs for the first time in 2021 since 2015. However, things fell apart in 2022 and he was fired after the season despite signing a five-year contract extension before the season.

Kingsbury was an offensive analyst and coached quarterbacks at USC for the last year. He worked with quarterback Caleb Williams, who will likely be drafted in the top two or three selections of the draft. Kingsbury potentially could get to coach Williams again.

Kingsbury’s new job likely means the Cardinals will save some money. They are on the hook for the four years of salary remaining on the contract extension they gave him but most coach contracts have offset language, meaning the Cardinals will only have to pay him the difference between his new salary in Washington and what he was owed by the Cardinals in his contract.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Caleb Williams congratulates Kliff Kingsbury after Commanders hire him as OC

Caleb Williams was paying attention.

From the moment it was revealed that the Washington Commanders interviewed Kliff Kingsbury on Saturday for their offensive coordinator vacancy, rumors swirled about a potential trade-up for USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

Kingsbury spent the 2023 season at USC as a senior offensive analyst under head coach Lincoln Riley, where he worked closely with Williams.

On Sunday, Washington hired Kingsbury, and the NFL’s preeminent reporter, ESPN’s Adam Schefter, joined in on the speculation.

Williams is expected to be the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Chicago Bears hold the first pick, and Washington will select second.

When Kingsbury was hired on Sunday, Williams was paying attention. He took to his Instagram page to congratulate Kingsbury on becoming the offensive coordinator of Williams’ hometown team.

The Commanders hiring Kingsbury may not mean anything as it pertains to Williams. Remember, the Bears hold all the cards. Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye are also considered locks to be selected in the top five of the draft and both would fit in Kingsbury’s offense.

These next few months should be fun.

Commanders’ players react to Kliff Kingsbury’s hiring

Two of Washington’s top offensive players fired up about Kliff Kingsbury’s hiring.

Change is in the air in Washington. Last week, the Commanders hired Dan Quinn as head coach. He will be introduced to the media on Monday. This came two weeks after Washington landed the most coveted general manager candidate in the NFL, Adam Peters.

On Sunday night, Quinn began building his coaching staff. First, the news broke that the Commanders had hired former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. Washington hired Cowboys secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. as defensive coordinator shortly afterward.

Washington players were already excited about the hiring of Peters and Quinn, with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen saying he was looking forward to next season.

After news broke of Kingsbury’s hiring, two prominent Washington players shared their excitement over the move via X, formerly Twitter.

First, wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

Dotson had a promising rookie season in 2022. However, the former first-round pick took a big step back statistically in 2023 under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Kingsbury’s offense will be fun for Washington’s wide receivers.

Also, Washington’s leading rusher, Brian Robinson Jr., weighed in on the news:

Robinson had a bit of a breakout season in 2023, but Bieniemy’s offense was last in the NFL in rushing attempts. And while Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense is pass-heavy, he runs the ball much more frequently than many assume.

Washington players appear ready for the new era.

 

Twitter reacts to Commanders hiring DC Joe Whitt Jr.

Dan Quinn prys Joe Whitt Jr. away from the Cowboys to be his defensive coordinator in Washington.

The Washington Commanders have found their defensive coordinator.

On Sunday, the Commanders hired Dallas Cowboys secondary coach/passing game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as Dan Quinn’s first defensive coordinator in Washington.

Earlier Sunday, the Commanders hired former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. While some are down on Kingsbury as a head coach, there is excitement about him as a coordinator.

As for Whitt, he’s universally praised for his work with the Dallas secondary. He’s been working with Quinn since 2020 in Atlanta.

How is Whitt’s hiring viewed around the league? Twitter reacts to the Commanders hiring Joe Whitt Jr. as the defensive coordinator.

Commanders hire Cowboys secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. as defensive coordinator

Dan Quinn gets his defensive coordinator.

The Washington Commanders are set to introduce new head coach Dan Quinn to the media on Monday. On Sunday night, Quinn and the Commanders were busy locking up his two most important hires at offensive and defensive coordinator.

First, the Commanders hired Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. Shortly after, Washington found its defensive coordinator, Joe Whitt Jr.

Whitt’s hiring isn’t a surprise, as several reported he was expected to follow Quinn from Dallas to Washington last week. The Cowboys were planning to interview Whitt as Quinn’s replacement on Monday, as he’d be one of four in contention for the vacant Dallas defensive coordinator position.

Whitt Jr. has spent the past three seasons as Dallas’s secondary coach and passing game coordinator. Under Quinn and Whitt’s leadership, the team led the NFL in takeaways with 93, while Buffalo was the next closest team with 80.

Whitt Jr., 45, played college football at Auburn and began his coaching career there in 2000. After spending six seasons at three different colleges, his first NFL opportunity came in 2007 with the Falcons as assistant defensive backs coach.

He moved to Green Bay in 2008 as a quality control coach, but in 2009 became cornerbacks coach, a role he held for the next nine seasons. He was Green Bay’s defensive passing game coordinator in 2018.

In 2019, he took over as Cleveland’s secondary and passing game coordinator, a role he held for one season, and returned to Atlanta in 2020 in the same position.

Whitt Jr. came to Dallas in 2021, reuniting him with Quinn (who hired him in Atlanta) and head coach Mike McCarthy.

Whitt Jr. has overseen the development of some terrific cornerbacks at every stop throughout his NFL career. Dallas cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland led the NFL in interceptions in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

Quinn’s press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET Monday.

 

 

Twitter reacts to Commanders hiring Kliff Kingsbury as OC

From Kevin Durant to the media and fans, Twitter reacts to Commanders hiring Kliff Kingsbury.

The Washington Commanders have a new offensive coordinator. On Sunday, they hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Kingsbury, 44, is a former college head coach and NFL head coach and had a three-year NFL playing career. He’s coached quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murry and Caleb Williams over the years.

With Washington holding to the No. 2 overall pick, Kingsbury’s appointment quickly led to speculation about the Commanders moving up to No. 1.

While Kingsbury’s head coaching record is below .500, the hope is he can be successful at the NFL level, focusing solely on the offense.

What did Washington fans think of the hire? Much like the Dan Quinn hire, feelings were mixed. We look at how media, fans and others reacted to Kingsbury’s hiring, beginning with Washington superfan Kevin Durant.

Commanders hire former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator

Let the speculation begin.

New Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has made his first big hire. On Sunday night, the Commanders hired former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator.

Kingsbury first appeared on the radar Saturday as a possible candidate, as many believed he had agreed to terms to become the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. However, the two sides couldn’t reach a deal, Kingsbury began looking elsewhere, and the Raiders hired former Bears OC Luke Getsy.

A record-setting quarterback at Texas Tech, Kingsbury had a three-year NFL career before turning to coaching. He started at the University of Houston, where he quickly moved up to quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator. In 2012, he accepted the same position at Texas A&M. In 2013, he was hired at his alma mater for his first head coaching position.

In six seasons with the Red Raiders, he finished with a 35-40 record but developed quarterbacks, such as Baker Mayfield (before he transferred to Oklahoma) and Patrick Mahomes.

In 2019, he left Texas Tech to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals selected Kyler Murray with the first overall pick. Kingsbury finished with a 28-37-1 mark in four seasons with Arizona. He was fired in Jan. 2023 and took a position as a senior offensive analyst at USC under Lincoln Riley last season.

The Cardinals are still paying Kingsbury after he signed a six-year extension in March 2022.

Also at USC, Kingsbury worked with presumed No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams last season. The Commanders, of course, have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

 

Could Kliff Kingsbury become the Commanders new OC?

Is Kingsbury the leading candidate to become the new offensive coordinator?

Dan Quinn realizes whom he hires as offensive coordinator will be crucial.

Kliff Kingsbury, who earlier in the week appeared all but signed and sealed as the Raiders offensive coordinator, has now become a top candidate for the Commanders position. He and the Raiders were unable to agree on a contract this week.

With Washington owning the second overall selection in April’s NFL Draft, Kingsbury might be a strong candidate due to the fact he spent this past season at USC as a senior offensive analyst with Caleb Williams, who is strongly considered to be the first selection in the next draft.

Another young quarterback with whom Kingsbury has worked in the NFL is Kyler Murray as the Cardinals’ head coach from 2019-22. While serving as the head coach at Texas Tech (2013-18), Kingsbury worked closely with starters Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes.

Prior to becoming the Texas Tech head coach, Kingsbury was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M and, even earlier, the offensive coordinator at Houston.

He knows what it means to work hard and not be given anything in the NFL. As a player, Kingsbury (with the NY Jets) only saw action in one NFL regular season game. It occurred in 2005, when he completed one of his two passing attempts, gaining 17 yards.

Just a couple of weeks into the 2005 regular season, the Denver Broncos waived Kingsbury. Quickly the Jets signed Kingsbury, but the following May of 2006, the Jets waived him. A week later, the Bills signed Kingsbury, only to release him late in the preseason.

The Patriots drafted Kingsbury in the 6th round (201) of the 2003 NFL draft. In his four seasons (1999-2002) as a Texas Tech quarterback, he passed for 12,429 yards, 95 passing touchdowns and 40 interceptions.