When Kliff Kingsbury left the Washington Commanders, most fans and experts thought he would find work again quickly. That hasn't been the case, and the latest rejection he's received represents the ultimate slap in the face.
Kingsbury and head coach Dan Quinn couldn't reach a compromise on how best to take the offense forward in Washington. The offensive coordinator was let go, and attention immediately turned to whether he would get head-coaching interest in the 2026 cycle.
One interview arrived from the Baltimore Ravens, and that's about it. Kingsbury then focused on returning as an offensive coordinator, but the Tennessee Titans went with Brian Daboll. And the latest team to speak with the play-caller also went in a different direction, which is a much more telling indication of what the league thinks of his capabilities.
Commanders' rival NY Giants choose Matt Nagy over Kliff Kingsbury for OC job
Everyone was a little bit apprehensive about the prospect of Kingsbury joining the New York Giants to link up with quarterback Jaxson Dart and head coach John Harbaugh. He met with Washington's division rival to discuss his plan. But much like everyone else so far, they chose another option.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Giants have hired Matt Nagy as their offensive coordinator over Kingsbury. This was instantly met with frustration and vitriol among the New York fan base, especially considering he didn't do enough to stick around with the Kansas City Chiefs under Andy Reid or get a head-coaching job anywhere else.
If Kingsbury needed a wake-up call, this was it. His offensive scheme won't be successful in the long term. The notorious Kliff Cliff is notorious and common knowledge around the league. Couple this with his reported disconnect with Washington general manager Adam Peters, and it's not hard to see why other franchises are turning away.
Maybe Kingsbury thought he was just going to walk straight into another job. His agent was working overtime, leaking information to the media about substantial interest in him. Only three teams have shown their hand. None of them has taken the plunge, which is a damning indictment of how his skills are being perceived.
Kingsbury's work in developing young quarterbacks was a strong selling point. The Giants preferred Nagy's strategy to take Dart forward, and he may have clicked better with Harbaugh. But it's hard to look at this hire and not feel that things are looking incredibly bleak for the Commanders' former play-caller.
This is a far cry from this time last year, when Kingsbury was turning down head-coaching opportunities to focus on Washington's playoff run. Proof, if any were needed, that you have to strike while the iron is hot in this game.
Unfortunately, Kingsbury is finding that out to his cost.