The 2024 season was one of redemption for Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. After being fired as Arizona Cardinals head coach at the end of the 2022 season, Kingsbury went back to college in 2023 to work with USC head coach Lincoln Riley as a senior offensive analyst.
Kingsbury didn’t go to USC because no one else would hire him. The Cardinals were on the hook for several more years of paying Kingbury, so he took a job working with a good friend (Riley) and mentoring a top quarterback prospect (Caleb Williams).
By the time 2024 rolled around, Kingsbury was ready to get back to the NFL as an offensive coordinator and play-caller. He had options. The Bears, Raiders and Commanders were among the teams to interview Kingsbury. Chicago foolishly passed on Kingsbury to hire Shane Waldron, even knowing they were taking Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Kingsbury chose the Commanders, and the rest is history.
Kingsbury mentored Jayden Daniels — the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft — to a record-breaking year that ended with him winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. While Daniels was phenomenal, Kingsbury’s presence was critical in the rookie’s development. Kingsbury earned weekly praise for his work turning around Washington’s offense, which led to talk of potentially becoming a head coach again — soon.
The Commanders had their best season in 33 years, winning 12 games and playing in the NFC championship game. Kingsbury had opportunities to interview for head coaching positions in the offseason and turned them down. He wanted to return to Washington in 2025.
After his resurgent year proving he was one of the NFL’s best play-callers, where does Kingsbury rank among all 32 play-callers?
The 33rd Team recently ranked all NFL play-callers. The list includes not only offensive coordinators but also the head coaches who call plays for their teams, coaches like Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, and Sean McVay.
Kingsbury came in at No. 9.
There were questions about Kliff Kingsbury’s offense coming into the year and still some throughout the season, but most of those questions were answered. Kingsbury kept the up-tempo portion of the offense but was more willing to move players around and not be as static before the snap, something that hindered some of his Arizona offenses.
Not only did the Washington Commanders have better in-game and week-to-week adjustments, but there was also a clear developmental plan for Jayden Daniels, with a new layer added to the offense each week as the rookie progressed through the season.
Interestingly, all eight coaches listed ahead of Kingsbury were the head coaches who call plays. Ben Johnson, the new Bears coach, ranked sixth. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, Rams coach Sean McVay, Packers coach Matt LaFleur, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, and Reid make up the top five.
We aren’t sure how four coaches finished ahead of Reid.
As for Kingsbury, he’s clearly regained the respect of those around the NFL for the job he did with Daniels and the Commanders in 2024. What can he do for an encore in 2025?