Kliff Kingsbury is likely to garner a lot of interest as a head coaching candidate when the carousel begins spinning in earnest in a couple weeks – but does he want to go back down that route again after having so much success as an OC here in DC this year?
The short answer is yes, but the long answer is maybe not now?
“Yeah, I’m sure at some point,” Kliff said with a smile when asked that question during Thursday’s weekly media session. “I won’t count on (interviewing this year), but we’ll see how everything plays out. But I’m very happy here. This has been an awesome place, and has really helped me rekindle my love for the sport.”
And, maybe learned a thing or two from his current head coach, who himself is a second-timer?
“The first time, I didn’t know what I didn’t know as a coach at that level. So, to come in there, I don’t think I set the foundation the way I would do it,” Kingsbury said. “After watching DQ and how he set the foundation from day one, where these are the standards and what we won’t compromise and what we will be, I definitely I could’ve done a better job of that. And, once you don’t lay it out like that, it’s hard to put it back in and reset it. That’s where I think he’s done a great job – from day one, there were no ifs, ands, or buts, and the guys have bought in. He’s led in an incredible way.”
Chicago is one of three teams with an interim head coach that will have an official opening come Monday, and as Kingsbury was Caleb Williams’ offensive coordinator at USC in 2023, Williams was asked about Kliff (and his desires in a head coach) this week and said this:
“I’d say a head coach who challenges me, and us as players. Whether it’s on the field or character, doesn’t matter; just a coach that challenges us, a disciplined coach who is a man of his word and wants to win,” Williams said. “I’ve been around Kliff and I know what kind of guy he is; he loves football and wants to win. He’s a competitor, and being around him, knowing him, asking him questions, I think he fits a bunch of those good qualities that I said.”
Kingsbury can’t officially interview for anything until the Commanders are out of the playoffs, so that’s at least Jan. 12, so time will tell.