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.
