Remaining opportunities are thin on the ground for Kliff Kingsbury after his departure from the Washington Commanders. It's been a cold reality check regarding what the league thinks of his current offensive schematics, and adjustments are needed.
All Kingsbury can do is wait. It was surprising to see him depart the Commanders, but it was always inevitable once the play-caller and head coach, Dan Quinn, couldn't reach a compromise on how best to take the offense forward.
What comes next is extremely uncertain. It's also a far cry from Kingsbury turning down head-coaching interviews last year to focus on the Commanders' playoff quest.
Things aren't looking especially promising for Kingsbury. However, an NFL analyst thought there might be one viable option left for an immediate return to work.
NFL analyst believes Kliff Kingsbury should pursue Bears OC gig after Commanders exit
Ted Nguyen of The Athletic thought Kingsbury should pursue the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator role. This wouldn't involve calling plays with Ben Johnson running things, but it would keep him heavily involved and give him additional knowledge of more creative, under-center concepts that could serve him well moving forward.
"Best thing for [Kliff] Kingsbury might be to try to get the Bears OC job (though no connection has been reported). Obviously, he wouldn’t call plays, but getting experience learning an under-center offense would benefit him and his stock immensely. It would be way better for his career."Ted Nguyen
This might not be something the Bears entertain. Johnson runs the offense, so adding Kingsbury brings a 'too many cooks' element that may overcomplicate matters. Even so, he does have credentials that command instant respect. And he's also worked with Chicago's franchise player before.
Kingsbury and quarterback Caleb Williams spent time together at USC during the 2023 season before he became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The signal-caller lobbied to get him to the Bears before, so this potential move would no doubt get his seal of approval. Still, it would require significant concessions from Washington's former coordinator to make it even remotely feasible.
It seems highly unlikely. At the same time, Kingsbury is quickly running out of options.
Coordinator vacancies are being filled rapidly around the league. There is a good chance he'll be out in the cold unless something out of leftfield comes in at the 11th hour. It's not how he envisaged his immediate future going when the Commanders parted ways, but whether he's willing to adapt and admit certain problems in his offense is another matter entirely.
You're never too old to learn. But considering Kingsbury's stubbornness played a leading role in his Washington departure, don't bet on the Bears giving him a lifeline.