Kliff Kingsbury restored his reputation with the Washington Commanders in 2024. Now, the offensive coordinator has decided to repay this faith.
The Commanders' ultra-efficient offense and Jayden Daniels' sensational rookie campaign inevitably saw some alluring glances in Kingsbury's direction. The Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New Orleans Saints all expressed an interest. Two of those put in official interview requests for their head coaching vacancies.
Although disappointing, this comes with the territory as other teams look to capture some of the magic unfolding in Washington.
Kingsbury was fully focused on the task at hand. He refused any interviews while the Commanders were still in playoff contention. The fact they went so deep into the postseason led most to fill their positions. Only the Saints remained, which isn't exactly the most coveted gig looking at their current predicament.
Commanders should benefit greatly from Kliff Kingsbury's decision in 2025
Still, there were some nerves among fans until something got confirmed one way or another. NFL insider Jordan Schultz from FOX Sports provided the best possible update, revealing that Kingsbury has decided to remain with the Commanders in 2025.
"Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury — despite interest from the Saints and other teams — has decided to stay in Washington for a second season following a remarkable turnaround that saw the team go from 4 wins to an NFC Championship appearance. His return ensures continuity for the Commanders’ offense heading into 2025. Kingsbury will be a top HC candidate again next year, but the opportunity in Washington was too good to walk away from now."Jordan Schultz
This was incredible news. Dan Quinn and Adam Peters acknowledged during their exit presser that Kingsbury's time was coming soon. He wants to be a head coach again, but the Commanders will have his services for one more year at least.
Having this stability benefits everybody. The playing personnel is going to look different, but the schematic stability is something that should aid Daniels considerably.
Kingsbury and Daniels hit it off immediately. He took care of the signal-caller, bringing him along gradually before the confidence to open things up arrived. That didn't take long as the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft took the league by storm.
The Commanders believed enough in Kingsbury to swoop and prevent him from joining the Raiders. They helped the play-caller find his love for coaching again. He learned how to establish a culture and lead from the front. This will serve him well when the former Arizona Cardinals head coach takes the plunge again.
That's for the future. For now, the Commanders must do everything possible to maximize Kingsbury's second season.
Bolstering the weapons around Daniels is critical. Adding another explosive running back wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Solidifying the protection should also be high on Peters' list of priorities.
If the Commanders achieve these objectives, one would be hard-pressed to see the offense struggle. In this scenario, that will convince needy teams to go after Kingsbury, who'll probably be more receptive to offers.
But make no mistake, this represents the biggest boost imaginable entering the 2025 offseason.