It wasn’t long ago that Kliff Kingsbury, despite a losing record at Texas Tech, was seen as one of the industry’s rising stars, drawing comparisons to Rams wunderkind Sean McVay as the next coaching prodigy. Unfortunately, he never lived up to those lofty expectations, ultimately losing his job after four listless seasons in Arizona, finishing his Cardinals tenure with a 28-37-1 record. It didn’t take long for the league to expose Kingsbury’s shortcomings as a play-caller, nickel-and-diming teams down the field with a sluggish offense derisively referred to as the “horizontal raid.”
While he may not have panned out as a head coach, teams are still bullish on Kingsbury as an offensive coordinator with the Rams and Patriots (who he was drafted by) among his most interested suitors. However, the 43-year-old has apparently left the material world behind, fleeing to Thailand on a one-way ticket. According to Peter Schrager, Kingsbury has declined all interview requests, with no plans to resurface anytime soon.
Kingsbury retreating from the public eye is a surprising turn of events, though anyone who’s ever been fired can understand where he’s coming from, wanting to get out of dodge after a stressful four years in Arizona. Going off the grid could be a way for Kingsbury to reclaim his identity, centering himself following a career setback. Or maybe Kingsbury, after years of burning the candle at both ends, is ready for a major lifestyle change, abandoning the yearlong grind of professional football in pursuit of something more spiritually enriching.
However his story ends, whether he redeems himself with another team or retires to a beach paradise where the drinks are cold and the sun is always shining, at least Kingsbury won’t have to worry about where his next paycheck is coming from. After signing an extension last March, the Cardinals still owe Kingsbury $27.5 million to be paid out over the next five seasons.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram