Kingsbury’s style finally fuels wins
Coach, Cardinals thrive in spite of several obstacles
TEMPE, Ariz. — Kliff Kingsbury has proven his coaching chops on many occasions over the past decade, developing elite quarterbacks, piling up points on the scoreboard, producing an entertaining brand of offensive football that fans enjoy and opposing coaches respect.
There’s only one real problem on his resume. Unfortunately for him, it’s a big one. He hasn’t won much.
That’s starting to change for the 42-year-old Kingsbury, who has helped push Arizona to the NFL’S best record this season. The Cardinals (9-2) are in the middle of their bye week before they return to prepare for a road game against Chicago on Dec. 5.
Kingsbury has become one of the leading candidates for NFL Coach of the Year, winning games despite key injuries and COVID-19 absences that have kept some of the team’s best players and coaches — including himself — off the field. The Texan has kept his usual dry wit through the good times and bad, saying Arizona’s hot start hasn’t changed the way he feels about his coaching ability.
“The only thing I like is family members, people that have believed in me forever, them to actually not hear me called a ‘dumbass’ all the time,” Kingsbury said with a wry smile. “That’s the biggest positive I take away from all of it.”
Kingsbury’s odd resume is partly due to taking over tough jobs. He had a 48-58-1 record coming into this season after seven seasons at Texas Tech and two with the Cardinals. Both places, at least historically, have proven tough spots to win consistently.
Kingsbury was a player’s coach from the moment he walked into the Cardinals’ facility in 2019. It’s clear he’s widely liked by just about everyone on the roster.
The next challenge for Kingsbury is trying to win after the bye week. The Cardinals are 0-2 in games after the break over the past two seasons.
If the season’s first 11 weeks are any indication, this might be the year the Cardinals break through with a win on the week after a bye. They’re hopeful quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Deandre Hopkins will be back and the team is ready to make a push for the No. 1 playoff seed — and the lone first-round bye — in the NFC playoffs.
Kingsbury isn’t getting ahead of himself. He knows a good start doesn’t mean much: Arizona was 6-3 last season before stumbling to an 8-8 finish and missing the playoffs.