Kliff Kingsbury is back in the NFL. The Raiders are expected to hire the former Cardinals head coach as their new offensive coordinator, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
[RELATED: Latest On Raiders’ OC Vacancy]
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reported earlier today that the Raiders were considered the front runner for Kingsbury’s services. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo adds that the two sides still haven’t officially agreed to a deal, although it’s expected to get done eventually.
Kingsbury spent the 2023 campaign at USC, where he served as the senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach. He worked extensively with top QB prospect Caleb Williams, guiding the former Heisman Trophy winner to a 30-touchdown, five-interception campaign. While Kingsbury obviously isn’t entirely responsible for Williams’ NFL future, the coach didn’t do anything to hurt the QB’s draft stock.
Thanks to his relative success at USC, Kingsbury seemed to brush away some of the concerns surrounding him following his disappointing end in Arizona. It was the coach’s offensive acumen that helped earn him the Cardinals head coaching job back in 2019. The team took steps forward in each of Kingsbury’s first three years at the helm, culminating in an 11-win season in 2021. However, following a 2022 campaign that saw Arizona drop to 4-13, Kingsbury was relieved of his duties.
Following his one season in the college ranks, Kingsbury returned to the coaching cycle this past offseason. He also interviewed for the Bears and Eagles OC vacancies, although both organizations decided to go in different directions. Ultimately, he managed to secure a coordinator job under Antonio Pierce in Las Vegas.
Former offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi was fired back in October, but the team waited until they had a full-time HC before making a move. A number of candidates have been connected to the open gig, but we’re still learning of other coaches who were apparently interviewed for the job. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former Eagles and 49ers head coach Chip Kelly interviewed at least twice for the Raiders OC job.
We heard a few weeks ago that Kelly could be a candidate for an offensive coordinator role, although there weren’t any definitive teams connected to the veteran coach. Kelly has served as UCLA’s head coach since the 2018 campaign.
Pierce is clearly focused on adding experienced coaches to his staff. Former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has already caught on with the organization, with Mike Jurecki of Arizona Football Daily revealing that Lewis has officially been named the Raiders assistant head coach. Further, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Raiders are also eyeing former Browns head coach Hue Jackson for an offensive coaching job. This would be a return trip for Jackson. Prior to his defining stint in Cleveland, Jackson enjoyed a one-season stint (2011) as Raiders HC, finishing 8-8.
Very happy to see this. Now we just need to see if we’re going to see what he can do with O’Connell and a veteran castoff or if we’re going to sell the farm and go for a top QB in the draft. I hope we don’t decide to mortgage the future to go after a signal caller in the 1st round since we also desperately need to bolster the offensive and defensive line.
They’re going up and getting a QB in the draft. I think that’s what was behind the Telesco hire, having an experienced GM who can pull that off more easily.
I don’t see any way they try to patch QB1 with a vet again after last year’s experience. O’Connell is a fine QB2, but they should look to sign a mentor-type for QB3, then draft someone R1.
If the plan is to get a QB1 in round 1 then we better make sure to fortify the offensive and defensive lines in free agency because no QB would’ve been able to have consistent success with our line blocking for them
Did anyone else see the Cardinals on Hard Knocks with Kingsbury as HC? He was lost as last year’s Easter eggs.
Bad HC, good OC.
He just found the best QB in the league and two other #1 overall picks. He definitely wasn’t ready to be an NFL HC or may never be, but you can’t deny his eye for QB talent.
Hopefully he can be more creative when he isn’t also fulfilling the duties of a head coach, because his scheme and playcalling looked so stale in Arizona. Predictable, repetitive, and so often counting on Kyler to just go make something happen. He was supposed to be a more dynamic offensive mind coming out of Texas Tech. Here’s hoping he can show some of that.
Agree… Hope that the realization is a three year plan. There will be growing pains along the way..
They may trade Davante Adams, Jacoby Meyers, and not re-sign Jacobs. The offense may look very different soon.
Here come the Bears/Raiders trade rumors. Gonna get interesting.
Trade us Adams and you can have Nathan Peterman back 🙂
You spelled Maxx Crosby wrong
Failed at Texas Tech. Failed in Arizona. Sounds like the right guy for the Raiders. Losers.
Love this. If he’s just an OC I think he’ll do well. Love Marvin Lewis coming aboard as well. Not sure what to think of Hugh coming back but he was a good OC as well and terrible head coach
So many great coordinators went on to be horrible head coaches though. Bring it.
Raiders will trade up to take Caleb Williams at #1 to pair with KK.
Starting to think this too. I know Pierce might want Daniels, but I think they’re aiming higher.
I think if Chicago trades something to the Raiders it’s Fields, not 1:1.
Marvin Lewis, Kingsbury, Hue Jackson…Vegas doing Oakland things. Nothing changing there anything soon. The land of reject coaches!
Hard to succeed without a QB1.