Coaching news and rumors
The Washington Commanders are in the playoffs and they’ve advanced to the divisional round to face the Detroit Lions. They are one of eight teams still alive in the postseason, which means there are 24 other teams who are transitioning to off-season mode. That means a lot of changes around the NFL as coaches and executives are fired and hired.
Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr are both in their first season with the Washington Commanders as as offensive and defensive coordinators respectively. They have helped guide the team to a 13-4 record, and will likely continue on with the team next season despite getting head coaching interest.
Kliff Kingsbury has already been an NFL coach with the Arizona Cardinals, and he is still getting paid by them into 2026. He has received head coach interview requests from the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that he won’t take interviews until after Washington’s playoff run is over. This will likely leave him out of this year’s head coach hiring cycle, but Washington could be eliminated as soon as Saturday night when they visit the Detroit Lions.
Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt Jr has an interview requests from the New York Jets, but he has already said that he’s focused on the playoff game against the Lions, not interviewing for another job. The Jets are casting an unusually wide net for their next head coach, and hiring a first-year coordinator like Whitt Jr was always considered a long-shot.
Kingsbury will wait until after the playoffs to interview:
This is true. It increases the chances that Kliff Kingsbury returns to the #Commanders as OC for next year. https://t.co/s9i9ipgf2y
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 17, 2025
Kingsbury might decline interview requests:
Per a league source, Kingsbury might ultimately decline one or more of the interview requests. (He might even decline one or more if they lose.)
Kingsbury, who coached the Cardinals for four years, has no financial urgency to become a head coach again. His buyout from the Cardinals runs into 2026, at mid-level head-coaching compensation. This allows him to wait for the right spot to open.
Jets are also interested in Kingsbury:
The #Jets requested an interview with #Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. for their head coaching job, per sources.
It’s the first HC interview for Whitt, 46, who came with Dan Quinn from Dallas and has been an integral part of Washington’s turnaround. pic.twitter.com/PaKy11dOFw
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2025
Saints are also interested in Kingsbury:
#Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury has received requests from the #Bears and #Saints, sources say and Chicago would signal a reunion with Caleb Williams.
Kingsbury was asked if he wanted to be an HC again: “At some point. We’ll see how everything plays out, but I’m very happy here.” pic.twitter.com/mPWixUnLso
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 9, 2025
Update: From gathering input, to expressing interest, to submission of official requests.
I’m told the #Saints and the #Bears are the two teams that have officially requested interviews with #Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, per league source. @BovadaOfficial https://t.co/7ChqTQcTLW
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 8, 2025
Jets interested in Kingsbury:
I’m told the #Jets have internally discussed interest in interviewing #Steelers OC Arthur Smith and #Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury for the head coach vacancy, per sources.
Scheduling an actual interview is always a mutual decision, so we’ll see what occurs in this situation.… pic.twitter.com/Eq6So1Ib7c
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 4, 2025
Kingsbury will be selective:
Kliff Kingsbury will be selective in HC interviews for an interesting reason
What does Mike McCarthy’s future with the Cowboys look like? @Pschrags has more ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lXvaYKx0ny— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 5, 2025
Fowler: I do. I expect Kingsbury to interview there. As was told to me, most or all the names that have been linked to the Bears are people Chicago would like to interview. Observers believe experience will be a key factor in the hiring process, and Kingsbury has experience coupled with quarterback cachet.
Now, we’ve heard the buzz word “selective” with Johnson’s approach to the cycle. Kingsbury will also be selective, I’m told. He’s still getting paid head coach money from Arizona and gets to coach Daniels on a Washington team that should be even better next season. I don’t think he’s ironing shirts for job interviews just yet. Keep in mind, Kingsbury was down the road with the Jets in 2019 before he took the Arizona job, so New York could double back with him.