Kliff Kingsbury, who was Cardinals HC when Kyler Murray was drafted No.1 overall, breaks silence on going against him in Arizona
Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury coached Kyler Murray in Arizona from 2019 to 2022 before being fired ahead of the 2023 season.
Kliff Kingsbury praises ex-mentee Kyler Murray ahead of Washington vs Arizona game on Sunday. (Images via LA Times/X)
Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been riding high with his successful college-style offense in recent weeks. After three games and partway through the fourth week, the Commanders are leading the NFC East, ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
This Sunday, Kingsbury and the Commanders will make their only trip to the West Coast this season to face the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are 1-2, with their lone win coming in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams. Their two losses were to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, both of whom reached the final eight in 2023.
Drafted from the Oklahoma Sooners, Kyler Murray joined the Cardinals in the same year as Kingsbury. They saw some highs and lows together, leading them to their first playoffs since 2015 in 2021 and posting a 4-13 record in 2022. After that season, the Cardinals parted ways with Kingsbury, who went on to join USC as a senior analyst.
Returning to the NFL, Kliff Kingsbury is meeting Kyler Murray for the first time, on the other side too. Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, Kingsbury noted that it has been good watching him from afar.
At the end of last year, you could see the confidence getting back in his knee. He made a bunch of big plays and played really well. He’s played great this season… He’s a guy that I basically banked my entire career on what he would be. I still believe in it. It’s cool to see him playing well.
Kliff Kingsbury told media
"I basically banked my entire career on what he would be and I still believe in it and it's cool to see him playing as well as he is."
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) September 27, 2024
Washington Commanders OC and ex-Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury on Kyler Murray. pic.twitter.com/kj6YlgssKf
Kyler Murray, under HC Jonathan Gannon, has completed 59-of-86 for 635 yards so far. He has been making good on his comments made ahead of the season. In Week 2 against the Rams, Murray completed 17-of-21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns and achieved a perfect passer rating.
In the process, Murray also carved an NFL Record. He became the second player in NFL history after Ken Anderson fifty years ago to record a perfect passer rating while throwing for 250 or more yards and rushing for 50 or more yards.
Kliff Kingsbury and the Commanders are off to a hot start
The Washington Commanders are in rebuild mode with new manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. The trio, alongside a star quarterback in rising Jayden Daniels, has changed the fortunes of the 2nd worst team from 2023.
They started their winning campaign against the New York Giants and upset the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. The 45-year-old called a late-minute play, silencing the trash-talkers, on the sidelines with an amazing drive that ended in a touchdown sealing the Commanders’ win over the Bengals.
Kingsbury had been in talks with the Las Vegas Raiders before agreeing to join the Commanders. The players have been loving Kingsbury, with TE Zach Ertz stating that there’s a palpable energy in the team. Ertz also played under Kingsbury in Arizona. Unlike Eric Bieniemy, Kingsbury held at least three walk-throughs per day as opposed to long film sessions, which has helped the players warm up to Kingsbury.
Although the Commanders are still rolling on limited exceptions, there’s a buzz of energy in the air. Quinn, Kingsbury, and the team will aim to keep the winning streak alive as they face the Cardinals in the West Coast.
Mohammed Bazim
(118 Articles Published)