The Washington Commanders did little to help former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s case to become an NFL head coach again when they fired him less than one week after the end of a disappointing, 5-12 regular season.
It might not matter. Kingsbury might already be the apple of a team’s eye and getting fired by the Commanders isn’t going to be held against him — something that’s happened to Kingsbury in the past.
“Source: Former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury has received head coaching interview requests from the Titans and Ravens,” The Athletic’s Diana Russini wrote on her official X account.
The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan in Week 7 following a 4-19 record in 2 seasons.
The Baltimore Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons and a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Week 18 regular-season finale with the 2 teams playing for the final AFC playoff spot.
Kingsbury Hired After Being Fired in 2019
If Kingsbury lands an NFL head coaching job in 2026, you can put a picture of him in the encyclopedia next to “Failing Upwards” as it will be the second time in his career he’s been hired as a head coach immediately after being fired.
In 2019, Kingsbury was hired as the Arizona Cardinals head coach after being fired by Texas Tech, his alma mater, following a 5-7 season in 2018 and a 35-40 record over 6 seasons in which he had both Pro Bowl quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes as his starter at different times.
In Arizona, Kingsbury started things off by selecting Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft and was fired after going 28-37-1 in 4 seasons.
How Kingsbury Would Fit With Ravens
Kingsbury doesn’t seem like he would be a natural fit with the Ravens unless his entire approach is showing up and being subservient to quarterback and 2-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson — which seems like a sad way to take a head coaching position.
After the Ravens decided to fire Harbaugh after an astounding vote of no confidence from Jackson following the loss to the Steelers, any head coach coming in to take over should proceed with caution.
It’s also the top NFL head coach job opening out of the 8 jobs currently available, according to USA Today’s Nate Davis. And that’s mainly because of Jackson.
“They don’t come much better than two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson, who’s as dynamic as anyone who’s ever played the position,” Davis wrote on January 8. “Naturally, he has detractors − not yet able to win the Super Bowl and more pointed recent questions about his work ethic and relationship with Harbaugh. Jackson also tends to get banged up and misses a lot of practice time. Still, most teams would love to have such problems behind center.”
How Kingsbury Would Fit With Titans
The Titans — and coaching in Nashville — would seem like a much more natural fit for Kingsbury. Mainly because any sort of success would be welcome, which might just start with figuring out a way to go .500 in 2026.
It’s also where he could have the biggest impact on a young player with 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, a quarterback in dire need of a mentor.
Ward struggled mightily in his rookie season, going 3-14 as the starter with 3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions but led the NFL with 55 sacks taken for minus-410 yards.
Fired Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury Lands 2 AFC Head Coach Interviews