Insider expands on if OC Kliff Kingsbury could stay with Commanders despite HC interest

Shortly after it was learned last week that at least the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints had submitted interview requests for Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, a report surfaced claiming that "it's not a slam dunk that Kingsbury will leave" Washington this offseason. 

Before Kingsbury helped Washington earn a 23-20 wild-card playoff win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio expanded on Kingsbury's mindset. 

"This week...Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will have opportunities to interview for head-coaching jobs," Florio explained. "If they win, it won’t be his top priority. Per a league source, Kingsbury might ultimately decline one or more of the interview requests. ...[He] has no financial urgency to become a head coach again. His buyout from the [Arizona Cardinals] runs into 2026, at mid-level head-coaching compensation. This allows him to wait for the right spot to open."

Kingsbury accumulated an overall record of 28-37-1 with just a single playoff appearance and no postseason victories with the Cardinals from 2019-22.

Many assumed the Bears would be that "right spot" for Kingsbury considering he was a senior offensive analyst at USC in 2023 as current Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams finished his college career. Jayden Daniels of the Commanders became the uncrowned Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winner playing under Kingsbury, and Daniels completed 24-of-35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Tampa Bay. He also rushed for 36 yards and picked up a massive first down with his legs in the contest's final minute. 

While some within the Bears may feel Kingsbury can get the best out of Williams, Florio noted the Jacksonville Jaguars "could get involved this week" regarding Kingsbury. The Jaguars presumably are searching for an offensive mind who ideally will turn Trevor Lawrence into the elite quarterback they thought they had when they signed him to a five-year contract extension worth up to $275M with $142M fully guaranteed last offseason. 

"At the end of the day, Kingsbury will be in no hurry to leave," Florio continued. "He’ll make head-coaching money into 2026 even if he’s not a head coach. He can wait for the right moment to be a head coach again."

For now, it sounds like Kingsbury will spend the majority of this week preparing for Washington's divisional-round game at the 15-2 Detroit Lions this coming Saturday night. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Commanders as 8.5-point underdogs against the Lions.