With new ownership in place in Washington D.C., the Commanders’ front office has been hard at work attempting to repent for the sins of the past regime. It started with the hire of Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, a figure noted for his leadership qualities and ability to structure a backline.
On Sunday, Washington made its second high-profile addition to its coaching staff. The Commanders opted for yet another former head coach in the process, enlisting the services of former Cardinals boss Kliff Kingsbury to head their attack, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Commanders are hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 5, 2024
Kingsbury returns to the professional game after a one-year odyssey in Pasadena. The fact that his homecoming is happening 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.
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Much has changed over the past year, including the administration that had initially agreed to a deal with Bieniemy. Now, he finds himself on the outs, replaced by a much younger — although less accomplished — tactician. Here’s why:
Why did the Commanders hire Kliff Kingsbury?
Kingsbury’s hire boils down to a few central tenets. For starters, Harris and Co. represent a new era in Washington history. It seems they have little interest in maintaining the status quo of time immemorial, either, wiping the slate clean of the stench of the previous season (and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one…).
Harris handed Ron Rivera his marching papers within one day of the season’s finish. He demoted longtime general manager Martin Mayhew, as well, instead entrusting football and personnel decisions to former Niners assistant GM Adam Peters.
Kingsbury’s hire, coupled with that of Quinn, could represent new beginnings for the snakebitten team. It serves both a literal and a symbolic purpose, indicating to the public that the ‘Manders new establishment means business.
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Washington didn’t seem desperate to part ways with Bieniemy. But it didn’t seem desperate to keep him, either. Such is the case when your offense falls off of a cliff in the second half of the year. The Commanders ranked 24th in total yards and 25th in scoring offense for the season. And although personnel could have certainly been better, Bieniemy wasn’t faultless, crafting a system revolving around the largely erratic play of Sam Howell.
Howell’s struggles offer another window into understanding why Washington yearned for the fresh ideas of Kingsbury. You see, Kingsbury spent his one year hiatus out of pro ball at USC. The quarterback during his time there? A certain Caleb Williams, the man widely tipped to be the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Williams is a D.C. native, having played high school ball at WCAC powerhouse Gonzaga. Kingsbury’s presence should make the prospect of playing back at home even more appealing. Washington is in good stead to make a run for Chicago’s No. 1 pick. If that could net Williams — a player already comfortable with his surroundings both in the nation’s capital and Kingsbury’s offense — the hire could very well be a risk worth taking.
To that end, it seems at least one person is excited about Kingsbury’s arrival in D.C. — Williams himself. Take that for what you will.
Caleb Williams congratulates Kliff Kingsbury on his new job with the Commanders.
Photo credit to Caleb Williams’ Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/uoQefduQj4
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) February 5, 2024
