Kliff Kingsbury's Coaching Journey: From Paradise to Playcalling in D.C.

Kliff Kingsbury, the Washington Commanders' first-year offensive coordinator, has rediscovered the joy of playcalling and building relationships. After being fired as coach of the Arizona Cardinals in January 2023, Kingsbury traveled the world while he pondered his next move. He joined friends in Costa Rica, where he tossed Frisbees along the Pacific Ocean, worked out and observed as his friends closed nine-figure deals over video calls. During this time, Kingsbury spent many moments reflecting. His final season in Arizona had made him contemplate a life outside of football, so he peppered his friends with questions about their careers -- what they did, why and how they overcame failures. Retirement sucked. 'He was losing his mind and knew he had to go back to do something,' his brother, Klint, said. That something was football. Kingsbury spent the following season as a senior offensive analyst at USC, where his good friend Lincoln Riley is coach. Then in February, Kingsbury was hired by Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn as offensive coordinator. '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.' Since that revelation, Kingsbury has found a renewed joy for coaching -- one that possibly could lead him to another top job. With the Commanders, he has been free to focus on what he loves to do most: running an offense and building relationships with players. He said he has been more comfortable and open in meetings. He has built trust with players and helped design an offense centered around rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. This has been pivotal to the franchise's turnaround in Quinn's first season, which continues in the wild-card round on Sunday at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8 p.m. ET, NBC). From watching Quinn work, Kingsbury also has reflected on what he'd change if given another head coaching opportunity. For now, however, he said he is putting any talk of his next move on hold. He has found comfort and clarity on the field and in the meeting rooms with Washington. 'I don't know if I've ever had a more enjoyable season than I have this year,' Kingsbury said.