The turnaround of the Washington Commanders can be attributed to two people: offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
When a reporter asked Kingsbury if he would take another head coaching position, Kingsbury’s response? “It would take a lot to leave this kid.”
Kliff Kingsbury, the QB Whisperer?
Kingsbury’s relationship with Daniels has turned him quickly into one of the best in the league. According to PFN’s QB+ quarterback metric, Daniels’ QB rating is 85.7 with a grade of B, which places him ninth on our list.
“It would take a lot to leave this kid”. Kliff Kingsbury on being rejuvenated; why he’s in a good spot and how he got that coaching mojo back. https://t.co/IqvoxAHEH1
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 9, 2025
Kingsbury has garnered a reputation over the years as being somewhat of a quarterback whisperer. He coached the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, and Johnny Manziel.
Kingsbury might have been at his lowest point in his career when he was fired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, but since being hired as the offensive coordinator for the Commanders, Kingsbury has found new purpose and renewal in his career he said in an ESPN interview.
But at some point, Kingsbury even thought about retiring.
“All I’d done is football for a long time, and I was just like, ‘Hey, I’ve had enough,'” Kingsbury said. “The last year in Arizona was just … a lot of things we went through made it feel like it was not for me anymore. And then being able to step away and travel and do all those things, I was like, I knew I had more to give.”
Kingsbury seems to be in a better place in his life doing what he loves to do running an offense and helping quarterbacks.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a more enjoyable season than I have this year,” he said.
Regrets About His Time in Arizona
Even though Kingsbury is in Washington, he still maintains a home in Arizona, and he still thinks about his time there and what he would have done differently.
“I don’t think I set the foundation [in Arizona] the way I would do it after watching [Commanders head coach Dan Quinn] and how he set the foundation from Day 1,” Kingsbury said. “These are the standards, this is what we want, this is what we’re going to be. I definitely could have done a better job of that.”
Although he is grateful for his time in Arizona, being in Washington has made Kingsbury not only a better coach, but a better man too — and his player’s noticed the difference.
“That is why this year has been so much more fulfilling than I can remember, because I have gotten to be more my authentic self. And I remember when I was a younger coach, that’s kind of what I was and why I loved it. … It’s allowed me to build more relationships with the players again, which is my favorite part of the whole job. They can get to know me better on the more personal side.”