The Saints requested a Kliff Kingsbury interview shortly after the common season ended, however no assembly was ever scheduled. The Commanders OC obtained curiosity from different groups as nicely however indicated he wouldn’t meet relating to any HC jobs until after the team’s season wrapped.
Washington’s outstanding turnaround ended within the NFC Championship Sport, and the New Orleans job stays open. However Kingsbury isn’t . He’ll keep on because the Commanders OC for a second season, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. This determination will present necessary continuity for Jayden Daniels as he makes an attempt to comply with up on top-of-the-line rookie seasons in quarterback historical past.
Kingsbury’s inventory has surged on account of Daniels’ rookie-year type. The Washington play-caller has gone from being fired from his Arizona HC submit, regardless of having signed an extension months earlier, to an assistant who will in all probability be a coveted choice come 2026. That is fairly the turnaround for a scrutinized coach whose Cardinals operation unraveled in a 4-13 2022 season.
The Bears and Saints sent Kingsbury interview requests Jan. 9, and the Cowboys subsequently showed interest within the Texas native. Whereas most who obtain interview requests take these conferences, Kingsbury is being affected person this time round. Already having an attention-grabbing previous relating to NFL curiosity, Kingsbury has since seen Daniels modify his considering additional. The potential celebrity’s trajectory was rumored to be dissuading Kingsbury from leaving Washington so soon.
Kingsbury, 45, has already gone from being fired by a Large 12 program (Texas Tech) solely to be employed as an NFL HC; the Cardinals shaped that uncommon path for Patrick Mahomes‘ faculty coach in 2019. Kingsbury did snap a five-year Cardinals playoff drought by guiding the 2021 staff to that time, however his tenure turned after a woeful 2022 season. The Cardinals fired Kingsbury and didn’t carry again longtime GM Steve Keim, rebooting and in the end sending their HC again to the faculty ranks. Kingsbury catching on as USC’s place coach, the place he mentored Caleb Williams, helped his inventory. A number of groups reached out with OC interview requests — to the purpose at the very least two groups supplied jobs. Kingsbury backed out of a Raiders settlement and joined the Commanders, who’re believed to have supplied him a three-year deal.
Daniels is all however sure to win Offensive Rookie of the Yr honors, Brock Bowers‘ record-setting season however, and dropping his play-caller after Yr 1 would have launched a hurdle. Kingsbury now will reset and put together to additional develop Washington’s dual-threat sensation, as different groups monitor him forward of the 2026 HC carousel.
Kellen Moore, Mike McCarthy, Mike Kafka and Anthony Weaver characterize these nonetheless believed to be vying for the Saints’ HC submit. Kingsbury having a rising Commanders staff as a fallback choice proves necessary right here, because the Saints are once more standing alone by way of cap area (or lack thereof, in New Orleans’ case) they usually have an onerous Derek Carr contract to navigate. The Saints’ subsequent HC will doubtless be tasked with discovering a long-term QB resolution both this 12 months or subsequent, and restricted funds — a Saints staple — will affect this effort.
Kingsbury’s present staff having discovered stated reply will permit the skilled play-caller to maintain rebuilding his inventory. Though Bobby Slowik‘s C.J. Stroud partnership represents a cautionary story right here, Kingsbury will guess on Daniels conserving him within the HC combine past this 12 months.
