It was no surprise to see Kliff Kingsbury receive head coaching consideration after a fantastic first season with the Washington Commanders. The offensive coordinator opted to spurn the advances of others and stay with the franchise in 2025.
How much longer that goes on remains to be seen. Kingsbury wants to be a head coach again one day. He's eager to silence his doubters after being fired by the Arizona Cardinals. He's also got the luxury of being selective considering the Commanders' strong position and the fact he's working with a quarterback like Jayden Daniels.
It seems to be a case of when, not if, Kingsbury gets another head coaching job. The play-caller restored his reputation last season and found his love for coaching again. Having another year to learn from Dan Quinn, an accomplished leader and hugely respected figure among his peers, is only going to help his cause.
NFL insider reveals what could tempt Kliff Kingsbury away from the Commanders
NFL insider Benjamin Allbright lifted the lid on what it might take for Kingsbury to leave Washington during an appearance on The Big Doug and Carmi Show. He thought having a quarterback either in place or the ability to get one coupled with an ambitious front office might be enough to tip the scales.
"I know there was talk about interviews and all that stuff, but he [Kliff Kingsbury] was never leaving Washington after one season. He was always coming back for year two, that was always happening. A job that either has the quarterback in place or has the ability for him to go and get his guy. Because the two jobs that he's taken were Kyler Murray and Jayden Daniels. It would have to be a job where he could get his quarterback and do his thing. He's also going to want a front office that's a little bit more willing to spend. Finding a front office that is willing to spend and has the capability to get him a quarterback. It would take that to pry him away."
Benjamin Allbright
Allbright confirmed what we expected Kliff Kingsbury was never leaving Washington pic.twitter.com/E2B8YenPaM
— Big Doug (@DougMcCrayNFL) February 18, 2025
Kingsbury doesn't seem in any great rush to leave Washington. This is a tremendous situation for any coach, so it would need to be a notable opportunity to depart the ranks. He's also stated how hard it would be to leave Daniels, who took the league by storm in year one to comfortably win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Having stability around Daniels entering his second season is a massive asset to call upon. Big alterations are expected to the playing personnel again despite the Commanders making it to the NFC Championship game. That makes schematic familiarity even more crucial as the former LSU standout looks to build on the best possible start to his professional career.
What's important for the Commanders is maximizing Kingsbury's time with the organization. Quinn will be aware that it won't be too much longer before an enticing proposition arrives at the coordinator's door. Giving him the tools needed and exploiting this window of opportunity is essential, especially considering Daniels has two more years remaining on his rookie contract before he becomes extension-eligible.
If the same trend continues next season and the Commanders go deep into the postseason, Kingsbury will find himself as arguably the No. 1 head coaching candidate during the 2026 cycle. After that, it's about finding the right fit tempting enough to leave Washington behind.
