Kliff Kingsbury's decision to spurn the Las Vegas Raiders in favor of joining the Washington Commanders was a masterstroke.
The offensive coordinator deserves enormous credit for the way he's applied himself so far. Kingsbury's turned the Commanders' offense into one of the league's most efficient. His sterling work with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels enabled the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft to thrive instantly.
Kingsbury's been a revelation. He's built back his reputation after being fired as Arizona Cardinals head coach. If the same trend continues, the play-caller could get head coaching interest when the 2025 hiring cycle commences.
Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network has already touted Kingsbury as a name to watch for the Chicago Bears vacancy given his previous connection to signal-caller Caleb Williams. It might come to nothing, but the Commanders need to come up with contingency plans if he does end up taking a promotion elsewhere.
With this in mind, here are five offensive coordinator candidates the Commanders could consider if they lose Kingsbury to a head coaching gig in 2025.
Offensive coordinator candidates if Commanders lose Kliff Kingsbury in 2025
Commanders could promote Tavita Pritchard
For continuity purposes if nothing else, the Washington Commanders might decide to promote from within if offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury departs during the offseason. Dan Quinn put his extensive contacts to good use by molding an exceptional staff team - something that should stand him in good stead if the franchise needs to shift things around slightly.
Tavita Pritchard is a potential option to consider. The quarterbacks coach was one of the few retained by Quinn from the previous regime. He's done a tremendous job of steering Jayden Daniels through his rookie campaign. He's also had experience as an offensive coordinator at the college level with Stanford.
Pritchard will have his ideas on how to improve the Commanders' offense if Kingsbury bolts. But at least Daniels would have a familiar face to guide him rather than having to build a relationship from scratch once again.
The Commanders will explore all options in this scenario. If they decide to keep things in-house, Pritchard will be considered after securing strong roots within the organization.
Commanders could hire Joe Sloan
Jayden Daniels can ill afford any turbulence. The rookie signal-caller wasted no time taking the league by storm after the Washington Commanders selected him at No. 2 overall. He looks like a franchise-caliber presence under center, so keeping things as stable as possible is crucial.
If Kliff Kingsbury leaves for a head coaching position, maintaining some semblance of familiarity is key. That could come from within. It could also arrive via someone Daniels has worked with previously at the college level.
This brings Joe Sloan under the microscope. The current LSU offensive coordinator played a leading role in Daniels' phenomenal campaign in 2023 en route to the Heisman Trophy. The pair developed a close working bond, so he'll know exactly what makes the quarterback tick and how best to take his game up a notch moving forward.
While the connection is obvious, this would be a bombshell of epic proportions.
Sloan's got no NFL experience and is 37 years old. Dan Quinn could examine those with better knowledge of what goes on around the league to keep momentum churning positively if Kingsbury took his chances elsewhere.
Commanders could promote Brian Johnson
Another strong candidate if the Commanders promote from within should Kliff Kingsbury leave is Brian Johnson. And unlike Joe Sloan and Tavita Pritchard, he's got NFL play-calling experience to call upon.
Things didn't go well for Johnson as Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator. The loss of Shane Steichen was sorely felt and he couldn't galvanize a talented group of players. It came as no surprise to see his tenure short-lived, but the Commanders gave him an instant route to redemption this offseason.
Johnson's been given plenty of important responsibilities by head coach Dan Quinn. He's played a leading role behind the scenes and is thriving as the team's assistant head coach/passing game coordinator. The natural step would be to a coordinator position, although Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network was bullish about his head coaching chances sooner rather than later.
This is a logical choice in this hypothetical scenario. Johnson is familiar with the setup, has worked with Jayden Daniels for a considerable period, and should have a good handle on the strengths and weaknesses of this group.
Commanders could promote Anthony Lynn
Anthony Lynn is widely respected around the NFL. His time as Los Angeles Chargers head coach was largely underwhelming, but Dan Quinn wasted no time bringing him to the Washington Commanders when the opportunity arose this offseason.
Lynn's done a remarkable job with Washington's running backs. The unit continues to produce outstanding numbers despite dealing with some significant injury issues. It's a testament to his coaching prowess that the likes of Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols can step in at a moment's notice and produce the goods.
One only has to examine how players speak about Lynn to see how revered he is. The experienced coach has been an NFL offensive coordinator twice before. There isn't much he hasn't seen or done in the game, but much will depend on whether his scheme is deemed outdated compared to modern standards.
That's something for Quinn to decide. Lynn is progressive enough to adjust. Something the Commanders would have to do urgently if Kliff Kingsbury is tempted by a head coaching position in 2025.
Commanders could hire Thomas Brown
Thomas Brown is currently auditioning for the Chicago Bears head coaching position that Kliff Kingsbury has been linked with. He went from quarterbacks coach to interim head coach in a fortnight. This follows on from his turbulent time in the league over the last two years with almost no stability whatsoever.
Brown is a descendant of the Sean McVay coaching tree. He left the Los Angeles Rams to become the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator in 2023. Unfortunately, head coach Frank Reich desperately clung onto play-calling responsibilities to his detriment. He was fired after 11 games.
The Panthers had no use for Brown once Dave Canales became head coach. He's bounced back well, leaving a good impression in Chicago. His sterling work with quarterback Caleb Williams in recent weeks led to improved offensive efficiency under his guidance.
If Brown doesn't do enough to secure the top job, he won't be out of work for long. He's a progressive coach and a forward thinker. This is exactly what the Commanders and Jayden Daniels need should Kingsbury's time with the organization be a one-and-done arrangement.