Commanders Coach Kliff Kingsbury 'One of the Best Offensive Minds in Football'
ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Commanders kept everyone up late Sunday night as news of additional hirings quickly followed coach Dan Quinn's arrival in D.C.
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. will come with Quinn from the Dallas Cowboys organization and Kliff Kingsbury will be the Commanders offensive coordinator after executing an about-face with the Las Vegas Raiders to take this job.
The hire of Whitt was somewhat expected and has certainly been praised, but it's the hiring of Kingsbury that is drawing the most attention right now. And it's being praised by a colleague who knows him very well and knows the so-called 'air raid' scheme intimately.
The former Arizona Cardinals head coach and now USC Trojans assistant coach Kliff Kingsbury talks to quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the pregame warmup before playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Sept. 23, 2023.
© Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
"I'd just say that I firmly think he is one of the best offensive minds in football," Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Phil Longo told CommanderCountry. "And that he has had a profound impact on my approach to the game!"
High praise from a coach who helped establish quarterback Sam Howell as one of the best in college football during their days together with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
When Howell left for the NFL, Longo moved on to quarterback Drake Maye who is now expected to be one of the top three passers taken in the upcoming NFL Draft.
In fact, it's possible Maye will join his best friend and college teammate in Washington this offseason as some view him as a perfect fit for Kingsbury's deep-ball-loving system.
Another draft prospect who has seen his name skyrocket in Commanders mentions is USC Trojans Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who Kingsbury worked with in an advisory role this past season.
Of course, Howell himself seems to be equipped to handle the duties in a heavy shotgun-use scheme that accentuates deep throws while leaning on a serviceable running game more than most believe before diving deeper into it.
During Kingsbury's time with Arizona, his offense went from 28th in the NFL in rush attempts the year before his arrival to as high as sixth in the league during his time with the franchise.
So while many want to look at the latest Washington hire as an identifier of quarterback futures, it only seems in reality that the options are limitless.
For as much as we think we know about Kingsbury, the real case study begins now, and we're just starting to scratch the surface of what might be coming for the Commanders in 2024.
