LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 18: Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury reacts after a 29-23 win in overtime against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Former Arizona Cardinals and Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury was seemingly set to join Antonio Pierce’s coaching staff in Las Vegas over the weekend.

But in a surprise development, the 44-year-old wound up withdrawing his name from consideration for the Raiders’ offensive coordinator job. The Raiders quickly turned to ex-Chicago Bears OC Luke Getsy and gave him the gig that Kingsbury turned down.

 

Kingsbury later accepted the Washington Commanders’ offer to become their new offensive coordinator, working under new head coach Dan Quinn. So, what caused Kingsbury to turn down the Raiders in favor of Washington?

Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show”, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that “a contractual dispute” led to Kingsbury backing out of the Raiders’ offer. Schefter believes Las Vegas only offered Kingsbury a two-year deal, whereas Washington was happy to offer him a third year.

Kingsbury has a reputation for being a quarterback guru, having worked with Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech and later Kyler Murray with the Cardinals. Kingsbury was Mahomes’ head coach at Texas Tech before the latter emerged as the new face of the NFL.

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Over his four seasons as Arizona’s head coach, Kingsbury compiled a 28-37-1 record. His best season came in 2011, when the Cardinals qualified for the postseason with an 11-6 record.