Several NFL teams are reportedly interested in hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator just days after he was fired as the head coach of the Cardinals. This is according to Fox Sports. That doesn’t suggest that Kingsbury will soon make a comeback to the field of play. As per Peter Schrager, the 43-year-old coach lately purchased a one-way ticket to Thailand and has politely denied all requests, informing teams that he is not quite yet interested in coaching.
This confirms earlier rumors from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, who said after Kingsbury was fired that the former Texas Tech coach might retire from coaching. Kingsbury was highly funded by Arizona, which last March increased his six-year deal until 2027. However, the Cardinals’ terrible 2022 campaign, during which the team went 4-13 and experienced many off-field controversies, was believed to have particularly worn-down Kingsbury.
Kingsbury’s connections to Texas make him a suitable candidate for the Texans’ open head-coaching position in addition to possible coordinator opportunities. However, several well-known coaches have taken a break before coming back to the sidelines.
Current examples involve Mike McCarthy of the Cowboys, who took the 2019 season off from the NFL after being fired by the Packers; Doug Pederson of the Jaguars, who took the 2021 season off after being dismissed by the Eagles; and Sean Payton of the Saints, who is currently interviewing for new positions after leaving New Orleans this season. Sean McVay, the Rams’ head coach, has also recently considered retiring.
