Kliff Kingsbury is set to return to the NFL to join Antonio Pierce’s staff with the Las Vegas Raiders as the new offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.
According to NFL Network, the deal is expected to close soon.
Kingsbury served as USC’s senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach last season, working alongside projected No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
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Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears, owners of the No. 1 overall pick in April’s 2024 NFL Draft, also interviewed Kingsbury for the same job on their staff, but he is staying in the West to join an intriguing offensive line. .
When Pierce was named interim head coach after the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels, he selected rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell over veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, who signed a three-year deal with the club in the offseason. .
It’s also worth noting that Pierce was adamant about returning to the run game. Kingsbury is best known for his Air Raid offense and was popular at Texas Tech, where he coached Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield, and Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M.
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He brought that offensive prowess to the Arizona Cardinals, where he served as head coach for four seasons before being fired in 2022.
His offense ranked 6th and 8th in total yards per game in 2020 and 2021, respectively, when Kyler Murray was the quarterback, but 2022 will be a particularly tough year for Murray when he plays New England. His struggles have surfaced since he tore his ACL in a game against the Patriots, ending his season prematurely.
Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury before the start of a game against the Atlanta Falcons on January 1, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire, Getty Images)
Kingsbury will work with Pierce and the rest of the staff to determine who will start the season at quarterback, but it’s safe to say there will be competition for the position in training camp.
There’s also the question of what the Raiders will do this offseason with Josh Jacobs, who placed the franchise tag on him in 2023 following his rookie contract. Jacobs, like other top running backs in the NFL, wants a long-term contract.
However, the Raiders could again place the franchise tag on him.
However, Kingsbury should be looking forward to working with receivers like Davante Adams and Jacobi Meyers, who each starred for the Raiders this season. Adams finished with 103 receptions, 1,144 yards, and eight touchdowns in 2023 despite quarterback instability.
USC Trojans senior offensive analyst Kliff Kingsbury speaks with players during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on October 14, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. talk. (Jordan Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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For a team looking to make some noise in the tough AFC West, which currently features Los Angeles’ Jim Harbaugh and the Kansas City Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl, Kingsbury will have a difficult time making the Raiders’ offense a formidable group in 2024. I have a problem.
