Kliff Kingsbury's journey in the realm of football is marked by his transition from a player to a coach, with experiences that span various teams and roles. Born on August 9, 1979, in San Antonio, Texas, Kingsbury first gained attention as a quarterback at Texas Tech University. Under the guidance of coach Mike Leach, he thrived in the Air Raid offense, setting numerous school records and earning accolades for his performances.
After college, Kingsbury entered the NFL when he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. However, his time as a player in the NFL was brief. He spent the 2003 season on injured reserve and was released by the Patriots the following year. Kingsbury had short stints with the New Orleans Saints and the Denver Broncos, but he did not see regular-season action with either team. His playing career also included time in NFL Europe with the Cologne Centurions and a brief period with the New York Jets, where he made his only NFL appearance in 2005.
Transitioning from playing to coaching, Kingsbury began his coaching career as an offensive quality control coach at the University of Houston in 2008. He quickly moved up the ranks, becoming the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2010. His work with quarterback Case Keenum helped Houston achieve a record-breaking offensive season in 2011.
In 2012, Kingsbury joined Texas A&M University as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. His tenure there was highlighted by his work with quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy that year. Kingsbury's innovative offensive strategies and ability to develop quarterbacks caught the attention of his alma mater, Texas Tech.
In December 2012, Kingsbury was hired as the head coach of Texas Tech University. At 33, he was one of the youngest head coaches in college football. His tenure at Texas Tech was characterized by high-powered offenses and the development of several notable quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes. However, the team's overall performance was inconsistent, and Kingsbury was released from his position in 2018 after six seasons.
Shortly after leaving Texas Tech, Kingsbury was hired as the offensive coordinator for the University of Southern California. However, his time at USC was short-lived, as he soon accepted an offer to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL in January 2019.
As the head coach of the Cardinals, Kingsbury brought his offensive expertise to the professional level, implementing a version of the Air Raid offense. His first season saw the development of rookie quarterback Kyler Murray, the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Under Kingsbury's guidance, Murray won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The Cardinals showed improvement in subsequent seasons, with Kingsbury's offensive schemes playing a central role in the team's development.
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