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Kliff Kingsbury has been many issues as a coordinator and coach — Case Keenum’s faculty offensive coordinator, Johnny Manziel’s faculty offensive coordinator, Patrick Mahomes‘ faculty coach, Kyler Murray’s NFL coach and Jayden Daniels‘ NFL offensive coordinator — however he is additionally all the time been one factor: himself.
The up-tempo, shotgun-centric “Air Raid” (with changes) offense has been his factor. Good, dangerous, within the center, no matter location or position. He is all the time been a tireless employee: Again in 2022, “Laborious Knocks” captured him waking up simply after 3 a.m. and arriving on the Arizona Cardinals‘ observe facility earlier than 4 a.m., citing his taking part in profession not reaching the heights he needed as a motivating issue. With the Washington Commanders, he and Daniels have been persistently among the many first individuals on the facility.
“I am fairly according to the teaching type,” Kingsbury mentioned early in 2025 coaching camp, when he was coming off the Commanders’ breakthrough.
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And close to the top of the 12 months, Washington’s disappointing 5-12 season that proved his ouster?
“Yeah, I’ve seen [the no-huddle offense] finished at a excessive stage you realize, whether or not it is Arizona or right here at a really excessive stage and gained video games and had a number of yards, a number of success in that regard. So, I believe I am fairly assured, you realize, in that type of play when the items are there that you may play a very excessive stage, and it is a very difficult offensive cease.”
Kingsbury, 46, did not have the items this 12 months; that a lot is for certain. Daniels performed in simply seven video games, and he left three of these seven early. All events concerned wished Terry McLaurin’s extension had been finished earlier so he might have had extra time to develop with Daniels in coaching camp and get into soccer form: McLaurin suffered a quad damage in Week 3 and performed in a career-low 10 video games. The staff’s different high outdoors huge receiver, Noah Brown, appeared in simply 4 video games. The offensive line wasn’t entire till mid-October.
And but the Commanders nonetheless completed twelfth in offensive success fee and gained video games with not solely Daniels however Marcus Mariota and Josh Johnson. Gamers spoke glowingly of Kingsbury, with Daniels saying “I like working with Kliff,” and “Me and him have a particular relationship. Mariota praised Kingsbury’s system for making issues straightforward on the quarterback. McLaurin talked about the best way he, his position and his alignments grew below Kingsbury and likewise complimented Kingsbury for being “open to communication.”
However coach Dan Quinn needed a extra conventional run-heavy, clock management-driven, method, ESPN’s John Keim reported, though that goes in opposition to what Kingsbury has all the time been. The Commanders had the fifth-highest dashing fee within the NFL over Kingsbury’s two seasons as offensive coordinator, however additionally they had essentially the most quarterback rushes within the NFL (Twenty fourth-most operating again runs). Kingsbury’s system was large for Daniels in 12 months 1. It was much less profitable in 12 months 2 for a number of causes, some out of Kingsbury’s management.
“There is a ton of various choices I want we’d’ve made and I might’ve made, and extra similar to particular person play calls than something, you realize, our type of play was a bit completely different,” Kingsbury mentioned. “Like I mentioned, making an attempt to gradual the video games down, restrict possessions, do issues of that nature. However yeah, there are a ton of issues I want I might’ve finished higher so far as scheme and maximizing gamers and issues of that nature.”
Kingsbury could not management accidents. He could not management the protection being one of many NFL’s worst.
“We had a bunch of men that have been form of out and in of the lineup, and it is a credit score to this workers of getting these guys ready,” Mariota mentioned.
It isn’t a “unsuitable” name from Quinn, per se, however it’s definitely an enormous one. Typically circumstances change. Typically methods change. The Commanders can have huge adjustments forward, and Quinn had higher be proper.
Kingsbury, in the meantime, will seemingly be within the operating for each head coach and offensive coordinator gigs. Name his offense what you’ll, however it isn’t “gimmicky” in any sense of the phrase. Kingsbury confirmed flexibility and creativity as a play caller and play designer. The Commanders had a well-versed, multi-faceted dashing assault and a display screen recreation that labored wonders at its peak. Kingsbury helped produce not solely a profession 12 months McLaurin however a renaissance from Zach Ertz in his mid-30s and a bounce-back from Deebo Samuel in his late-20s. He typically made due with castoffs and kids, elevating the video games of gamers reminiscent of Noah Brown, Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Here is the place Kingsbury might find yourself subsequent.
Kingsbury has beforehand expressed a need to return to go teaching, and he determined to stay in Washington final 12 months, when he might have been one of many high candidates for a gap. How a lot a troublesome 2025 damage his teaching candidacy stays to be decided, however his greatest match may very well be to stay an offensive coordinator.
He’ll desire a cell quarterback, versatile operating recreation and a few weapons to maximise that assault, and the Giants stand out because the staff that matches the invoice greatest. Jaxson Dart confirmed spectacular dashing means, and the Giants have a tandem of succesful backs in bruiser Cam Skattebo in addition to the faster Tyrone Tracy Jr., who has quietly reached 1,000+ yards from scrimmage in every of his two seasons. Malik Nabers regarded like a star within the making earlier than an early-season knee damage, and Wan’Dale Robinson may very well be a flexible, movable chess piece as nicely. Tracy and Robinson particularly might assist gasoline Kingsbury’s versatility as a play caller and designer.
Cam Ward quietly completed his rookie season strongly, throwing for eight touchdowns and only one interception over his final 4 full video games (he left the season finale with a shoulder damage however will not want surgical procedure). He is would not run like Murray, Daniels or Dart, however he is not a statue, both. He confirmed spectacular escapability down the stretch of his debut season, and his sack numbers declined in form.
Ward has mentioned he desires to be concerned within the coach-hiring course of, and if the candidate at hand is not Kingsbury, he would do nicely to pitch Kingsbury because the offensive coordinator. The Titans have an extended strategy to go int he rebuild course of, however Kingsbury has developed younger quarterbacks in every single place he is been. Tennessee has some gifted if inconsistent huge receivers, too, in Himere Dike and Elic Ayomanor.
3. Giants coach
The Giants would do nicely to strongly think about Kingsbury for the principle gig, not only a coordinator one. Kingsbury has undoubtedly discovered from his time because the Cardinals’ coach, which included him constructing a staff from 3-13 the 12 months earlier than he arrived to 5-10, then 8-8, then 11-6. Individuals typically recall his last season — 4-13 — and his struggles down the second half of seasons most, however they overlook how good of a job he did, with two-Tenth total whole offenses. He did all of it with Kyler Murray a quarterback who not solely had limitations however performed his greatest ball below Kingsbury and now seems on his means out of Arizona.
Hiring Kingsbury could be an enormous guess. He must get the decision at defensive coordinator proper. The Giants actually struggled on that aspect in 2025 however have foundational items alongside the road. It is a huge market that comes with a ton of scrutiny. If Kingsbury is up for it, although, he and Dart might type a powerful partnership.
The Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris, and whereas that does not preclude offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from coming again, there is a cheap probability whomever succeeds Morris will need to handpick his offensive coordinator. If that coach is a first-timer, having the expertise of Kingsbury could be useful; if it is not a first-timer, Kingsbury might nonetheless match the invoice.
Atlanta has a powerful offensive line, a celebrity versatile operating again in Bijan Robinson and a star huge receiver in Drake London. Quarterback is an enormous query, however Michael Penix Jr. has operated out of the shotgun his complete profession, so there’s no less than some synergy there. Penix is not a dual-threat man, however Kingsbury has proven talents to adapt. And if Penix seems to not be the reply, Kingsbury might once more be a mentor for an additional younger quarterback.
NOTE: We did not think about sending Kingsbury again to the Cardinals, nor did we think about him for any Las Vegas Raiders openings. Kingsbury withdrew from the Raiders’ offensive coordinator search on the final minute two years in the past.
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