Under the ownership of Josh Harris, the Washington Commanders struggled during the 2023 season, finishing with a 4-13 record. Despite Harris expressing the desire for a change in culture, the team encountered difficulties, leading to challenges on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Hence, Harris decided to take proactive measures before the 2024 season. Alongside appointing a new head coach, he sought to fortify the team’s offensive capabilities with the acquisition of Kliff Kingsbury.
Kliff Kingsbury lands Commanders’ OC position
Kliff Kingsbury has officially joined the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator. This decision follows a brief period of speculation and a failed arrangement with the Las Vegas Raiders which fizzled out in less than 48 hours.
The news of Kingsbury’s appointment to the Commanders does not come as a welcome surprise to many, especially after ESPN’s Adam Schefter initially reported his potential move to Las Vegas.
Kingsbury brings a wealth of coaching experience, particularly from his 12 seasons at the college level. Notably, the Arizona Cardinals have been his sole NFL team, where he served as a head coach.
Despite a relatively short stint, Kingsbury led the Cardinals to the playoffs in the 2021 season. In that season, the Cardinals ranked 11th in scoring offense. However, his promising 10-2 start took an unexpected turn, culminating in an 11-6 regular-season record and a significant defeat in the wild-card round.
Before donning the headset as an NFL head coach, Kingsbury honed his skills as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Houston and Texas A&M.
What role will Kliff Kingsbury play as Commander’s OC?
As the Washington Commanders gear up for the 2024 NFL Draft, all eyes are on the potential No. 2 overall pick, as USC’s standout quarterback, Caleb Williams has recently declared his draft. The responsibility of molding a seamless connection between Williams and the Commanders falls squarely on the shoulders of Kliff Kingsbury if they pick Williams.
As the new OC is fresh off his coaching stint with the Cardinals, he is set to face the exciting challenge of crafting a distinctive identity for the Commanders’ offense. His first order of business is to capitalize on the anticipated selection of Williams in the upcoming draft.
Interestingly, this won’t be the first collaboration between Kingsbury and Williams, as they joined forces at USC last year. Kingsbury’s role as a senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach during that time has set the stage for a reunion that fans have been eagerly anticipating.
Beyond nurturing Williams into his NFL debut, Kingsbury carries the additional responsibility of revamping the team’s offense. The Washington team’s offensive struggles have been a persistent issue, with rankings below 16th in points and yards since 2016, per ESPN.
Last season, they finished 24th in both points per possession (1.68) and yards per possession (26.9). It’s a challenge that Kingsbury, known for his offensive acumen, is seemingly well-prepared to tackle.
While Kingsbury focuses on elevating the offense, he’ll have the support of the Commanders’ new head coach, Dan Quinn. With Quinn’s extensive experience coaching defense throughout his career, the Commanders boast a well-rounded coaching staff capable of addressing both sides of the ball effectively.
It will remain to be seen how well Kingsbury will ultimately be able to turn the tide on offense, breathing new life into a team hungry for success.
