ESPN NEWS REPORTS: Former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury hired as Commanders offensive coordinator

Kliff Kingsbury is preparing to return to the NFL.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Kingsbury has reached an agreement to become the Washington Commanders’ next offensive coordinator. Kingsbury is Dan Quinn’s first major hire since joining the Commanders.
The specifics of his contract are unknown, although it is supposedly for three years.

Kingsbury was supposed to take over as offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week, under new head coach Antonio Pierce. On Saturday, Kingsbury reportedly withdrew his name from consideration due to a breakdown in contract negotiations. He rapidly became a favourite for the position in Washington.

Kingsbury will now work for the Commanders under Quinn, who previously served as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for three seasons. Quinn and the Commanders were also allegedly interested in UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury, and other candidates for the position.

The Commanders also hired a new defensive coordinator on Sunday night. According to Rapoport, the team has agreed to sign Joe Whitt Jr. Whitt previously worked with Quinn as a passing game coordinator and secondary coach. He was scheduled to interview for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator position on Monday.

Kingsbury, 46, was the head coach at Texas Tech for six seasons, where he coached alongside Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield. He previously spent four seasons in the league as the Cardinals’ head coach, with a 28-37-1 record. The squad only made the playoffs once, going 4-13 in his final season with the franchise before he was sacked in January. Kingsbury, who served as both USC’s quarterbacks coach and offensive analyst last season, also interviewed with the Chicago Bears for the post of offensive coordinator this coaching cycle.

Kingsbury will now be responsible for turning around the Commanders’ offence and quarterback Sam Howell, who will begin his third season with the squad this fall. The Commanders were 4-13 last season before firing head coach Ron Rivera. Howell, who became a starter for the first time in his career, passed for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions.

The Commanders also hold the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft later this spring, so they may draft a quarterback to replace Howell, such as USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who worked with Kingsbury in Los Angeles last season. Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports predicted Williams would go to the Commanders in his latest mock draft.