Getty Image / David J. Griffin
Kliff Kingsbury is one of the most renowned offensive minds in all of football. The former star Texas Tech quarterback turned coaching savant, has been all over the coaching word, leading great offenses wherever he has been.
Kliff Kingsbury played in pro football after putting up gaudy numbers at Texas Tech, and even won a Super Bowl as a member of the New England Patriots. Stints in leagues like NFL Europe and the CFL came after, and he never really caught on as a professional quarterback.
But, he quickly found his niche in coaching. After joining Kevin Sumlin’s staff at Houston in 2008, Kingsbury flew up the coaching ranks. He was named offensive coordinator there in 2010, moved on to Texas A&M with Sumlin in 2012 where he helped Johnny Manziel to a Heisman Trophy. At just 33 years old, his alma mater Texas Tech hired him as their head coach. He was quite average there, though, going just 35-40 there in six seasons. But, that was enough to land him the Arizona Cardinals job prior to the 2019 season, despite being fired at Texas Tech just a few weeks prior.
Things started out okay in Arizona for Kliff Kingsbury. He got the team to 8-8 in year two, and the year after, they started the 2021 season 10-2. But, it was all downhill from there, as they suffered a first-round playoff exit that year and 2022 was a disaster. The Cardinals went 4-13, and he was fired.
But, the genius offensive mind can still help a team put up points, and USC coach Lincoln Riley thinks he help can Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams get to the next level.
Former #Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury is expected to join Lincoln Riley at USC and work with the team’s quarterbacks, per sources.
So Kingsbury, who was part of the team that drafted Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall, now will coach another potential No. 1 pick in Caleb Williams. pic.twitter.com/MxwzrEVb9J
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 11, 2023
The USC offense doesn’t need much help, as it was nearly unstoppable last year, averaging over 41 points a game. But, I’ve got to trust Lincoln Riley on all things to do with offense.