It seemed inevitable Kliff Kingsbury would move onto this year’s HC carousel. As Jayden Daniels appears weeks from an Offensive Rookie of the Year honor, the Commanders’ play-caller indeed will be summoned for interviews.
A Wednesday report pegged at least four teams as showing interest in Kingsbury for the position, and Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports the Bears and Saints have submitted official request to meet with him.
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A Bears meeting has been expected for a bit, and it will be rather interesting given the parties’ 2024 connection. The Bears met with Kingsbury about their OC job last year, only to hire Shane Waldron. The Kingsbury meeting also was interpreted as more fact-finding mission about Caleb Williams — whom Kingsbury coached during a 2023 stopover at USC — than true interview for the then-vacant coordinator post. Kingsbury’s stock has climbed since that meeting, and he will meet with Bears brass about their top coaching post.
The Saints have no ties to Kingsbury, which separates his candidacy from the likes of Aaron Glenn or Joe Brady, and they do not have a young quarterback like the HC-needy Bears or Jaguars do. The Saints’ perennially poor cap position also could be an issue for high-end HC candidates. Jacksonville has come up as a stealth Kingsbury suitor, and the AFC South team’s interest may become official soon. But New Orleans is hoping to speak with Kingsbury, 45, soon. Derek Carr is in line to come back for his age-34 season, and the team would be interested in hearing how the middling passer can launch a late-career surge.
While Bo Nix‘s strong season had threatened Daniels’ grip on the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for a stretch, the No. 2 overall pick closed the show in a manner that left little doubt about the outcome. The 2023 Heisman winner powered a rebuilding Commanders team to a 12-5 record, combining 3,568 passing yards with 891 on the ground. Daniels finished with 31 total touchdowns (six rushing) and placed fourth in regular-season QBR.
Daniels’ rapid ascent will give Kingsbury tremendous momentum, to the point the former Cardinals HC — fired months after signing an Arizona extension — could potentially be patient in Ben Johnson fashion. But Kingsbury’s Williams tie could prove important re: the Chicago job soon.