With new ownership in Washington DC, the Commanders’ main office has been hard at work trying to repent for the sins of the past regime. It all started with the hiring of Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, a figure noted for his leadership qualities and ability to structure a defensive line.
On Sunday, Washington made its second high-profile addition to its coaching staff. The Commanders turned to another former head coach in the process, enlisting the services of former Cardinals boss Kliff Kingsbury to spearhead their attack, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Commanders are hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator, according to league sources.
—Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 5, 2024
Kingsbury returns to the professional game after a year-long odyssey in Pasadena. The fact that his return home takes place in the nation’s capital wouldn’t have seemed feasible this time last year, mainly because the franchise had just acquired Eric Bieniemy for the role.
Much has changed over the past year, including the administration that had initially agreed to a deal with Bieniemy. He now finds himself out of action, replaced by a much younger, if less accomplished, tactician. This is why:
Why did the commanders hire Kliff Kingsbury?
Kingsbury’s hiring comes down to a few core principles. For starters, Harris and Co. represent a new era in Washington history. It seems that they also have little interest in maintaining the status quo of time immemorial, wiping the slate clean from the stench of the previous season (and the one before that, and the one before that, and the…).
Harris handed Ron Rivera his marching papers one day after the season ended. He also demoted longtime general manager Martin Mayhew, instead entrusting football and personnel decisions to former Niners assistant general manager Adam Peters.
Kingsbury’s signing, along with Quinn’s, could represent a new beginning for the snakebitten team. It serves both a literal and symbolic purpose, signaling to the public that ‘Manders’ new establishment means business.
Washington did not seem desperate to part ways with Bieniemy. But he didn’t seem desperate to keep it either. Such is the case when his offense falls off a cliff in the second half of the year. The Commanders ranked 24th in total yards and 25th in scoring offense on the season. And while the staff certainly could have been better, Bieniemy was not without error, as he created a system that revolved around Sam Howell’s largely erratic play.
Howell’s struggles offer another window into why Washington longed for Kingsbury’s new ideas. You see, Kingsbury spent his one-year hiatus away from professional baseball at USC. The quarterback during his time there? One Caleb Williams, the man widely considered to be the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Williams is a D.C. native and played high school baseball at WCAC powerhouse Gonzaga. Kingsbury’s presence should make the prospect of playing at home even more attractive. Washington is in good position to compete for Chicago’s top pick. If that could land Williams (a player already comfortable with his surroundings in both the nation’s capital and Kingsbury’s offense), the hire could very well be a risk worth taking.
To that end, it seems like at least one person is excited about Kingsbury’s arrival in DC: Williams himself. Take it as you like.
Caleb Williams congratulates Kliff Kingsbury on his new job with the Commanders.
Photo credit from Caleb Williams’ Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/uoQefduQj4— Nicolás Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) February 5, 2024
