The Washington Commanders and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury were a perfect match in 2024.
In 2025, it was something very different — enough so that the 2 sides have decided to part ways in a shocking move.
“Sources: Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is leaving the organization to pursue other opportunities,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Tuesday, January 6. “Kingsbury and HC Dan Quinn met today, and agreed to mutually part ways.”
Kingsbury was largely credited for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels winning NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 as the Commanders went 12-5, upset the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Round and made the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
This season, the Commanders finished 5-12 overall and were eliminated from the postseason with 4 games remaining in the regular season.
Following the year, stories began to circulate about a disconnect between Kingsbury and general manager Adam Peters.
Kingsbury will likely be a hot head coaching candidate for many of the half-dozen job openings — so far — for NFL teams.
“The Commanders and OC Kliff Kingsbury are parting ways, sources say, as the play-caller looks for a new opportunity after meeting with coach Dan Quinn,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X. “Kingsbury will be an OC again this cycle, but also should be considered as a HC candidate.”
In another move that was much more anticipated, the Commanders also fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
“It has been a challenging year for NFC East defensive coordinators,” Schefter wrote on X. “The Giants fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen this season, Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. and Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus are both out as of today. The only NFC East defensive coordinator who started the season with his team and remains with it is Philadelphia’s Vic Fangio.”
Kingsbury Won’t Be Unemployed in 2026
Kingsbury was a hot head coaching candidate following last season but only one opportunity remained following the Commanders’ surprise playoff run, with the New Orleans Saints, although that job eventually went to Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
You can make a safe bet that Kingbury won’t be long for the unemployment line — the only question that remains is if he’ll be an offensive coordinator or a head coach.
Any team that has a young quarterback it needs to develop should be willing to throw big money at Kingsbury, who has developed some of the best quarterbacks of the last generation in college and the pros, including 2-time NFL MVP and 3-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes as well as a trio of Heisman Trophy winners in Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Johnny Manziel.
All 6 Head Coach Openings Have Young QBs
All 6 of the NFL head coach openings so far feature teams that either have young quarterbacks which need to be developed or will soon enough — the New York Giants (Jaxson Dart), Tennessee Titans (Cam Ward), Atlanta Falcons (Michael Penix), Cleveland Browns (Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel) and the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals are both likely to draft a quarterback, with the Raiders owning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
“Sources say Kliff Kingsbury is expected to interview with the Giants and Titans — among others — for their open HC positions,” NFL Insider Jordan Schultz wrote on X.
Commanders Make Final Decision on OC Kliff Kingsbury