Kliff Kingsbury, the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, has withdrawn his name from consideration as the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. This surprising decision comes after it was widely believed that Kingsbury would be joining the Raiders’ coaching staff. According to ESPN, both sides initially thought it was a done deal, but Kingsbury had other plans in mind.
Instead, Kingsbury is now the leading candidate for the offensive coordinator position with the Washington Commanders, as reported by CBS Sports. This unexpected turn of events has left the Raiders in search of a new OC. Luke Getsy, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, is considered a strong candidate for the role. The team has also spoken to Eric Bieniemy, the former offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders, as well as Pep Hamilton, who held the position of offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans in 2022.
The Raiders had their sights set on Kingsbury for the job and even interviewed current UCLA head coach Chip Kelly multiple times. However, it seems that Kingsbury’s decision to pursue other opportunities has left the Raiders scrambling to find a suitable replacement.
Kingsbury’s coaching career has seen its fair share of ups and downs. After being fired by the Arizona Cardinals last January, he joined USC as an offensive analyst for the past season. During his tenure with the Cardinals, Kingsbury achieved a record of 28-37-1 over four seasons. In 2021, he led the team to the playoffs with an 11-6 record. However, the following year proved to be disastrous as the Cardinals finished last in their division with a 4-13 record.
Prior to his time with the Cardinals, Kingsbury served as the head coach at Texas Tech and was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M during Johnny Manziel’s Heisman Trophy-winning season. Despite his mixed success in the NFL, Kingsbury’s offensive expertise and experience have made him a highly sought-after candidate for coaching positions.
The Raiders are facing several important decisions this offseason, including determining their starting quarterback and negotiating a contract extension with running back Josh Jacobs. Additionally, they must now find a new offensive coordinator to improve their lackluster offense. Last season, the Raiders’ offense ranked sixth-worst in yards per game and tenth-worst in points per game.
As the search for a new offensive coordinator continues, the Raiders will be hoping to find a candidate who can revitalize their offense and help lead the team to success in the upcoming season. With the pressure mounting, the Raiders must make a wise choice to ensure they have the right person to guide their offense to new heights.