Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz first met his current offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, in October 2021 when the Philadelphia Eagles traded him to the Arizona Cardinals. Kingsbury was Arizona’s head coach at the time.
For the remainder of that season, Ertz was a perfect fit in Kingsbury’s offense, recording 56 receptions in 11 games for the Cardinals. Both Ertz and Kingsbury liked the arrangement, and Arizona signed the soon-to-be-31-year-old to a three-year contract extension.
Ertz was having another terrific season in 2022 until he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10. Several weeks later, Kingsbury was fired.
While Kingsbury stepped away from the NFL for a year in 2023, Ertz played for the Cardinals, was injured and then requested his release. In March, he signed with the Commanders, a team he played many times over the years when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Signing with Washington also reunited Ertz with Kingsbury. This time around, though, Kingsbury would be Ertz’s offensive coordinator, not his head coach.
The change has apparently re-energized Kingsbury, according to Ertz.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kliff so happy,” Ertz said Monday. “He seems like he’s refreshed every time he goes out on the practice field. He is eager. He is excited to work with the quarterbacks every single day. And so I truly believe that maybe that break from everything last year and him be able to get this job and work with Jayden (Daniels) and Marcus (Mariota) and Sam (Hartman) and Jeff (Driskel) every day has really almost, I would say, rejuvenated him. I think I’m in the same boat, you know, it has been extremely fun to be here.”
For the first time since coming to the NFL in 2019, Kingsbury doesn’t have to worry about the responsibilities of a head coach. He can focus solely on teaching, designing the offense, and, most importantly, working daily with the quarterbacks.
Multiple players have praised Kingsbury’s approach and his offense. While that’s the case every time there is a new coach or coordinator, Kingsbury’s flexibility and creativity will be a welcome change.
Or, perhaps, its working with a young quarterback as talented as Daniels.