This week, the Washington Commanders made a significant move by appointing Kliff Kingsbury as their latest offensive coordinator, a decision that has garnered praise from none other than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.
Kliff Kingsbury boasts a unique connection with Mahomes, having served as his college head coach during their time together at Texas Tech Red Raiders. Not only did Kingsbury recruit Mahomes out of high school, but he also played a pivotal role in honing the young quarterback’s skills and nurturing his development.
“It’s someone who’s taught me a ton,” Mahomes said according to USA Today. “He got me, kind of out of high school, where I was a baseball player trying to play football. Basically, trying to be on my own. You’re leaving the household and kind of being on your own, and he helped me become who I am today.”
Mahomes’ endorsement of Kingsbury stems from his belief in the coach’s ability to empower young quarterbacks. According to Mahomes, Kingsbury’s coaching philosophy revolves around allowing quarterbacks the freedom to express themselves on the field without imposing strict limitations on their playing style.
“I think the biggest thing is, you see, with a lot of young quarterbacks is whenever they get to a coach, they kind of try to restrict them and kind of make them be this model of how the quarterback position is supposed to be played,” Mahomes said. “And I think he was early in the game of just saying, ‘Hey, let’s maximize your strengths.’ He would teach me here and there how to be more mechanical and get in the pocket and the fundamentals of the game, but he never restricted who I was.”
This approach, Mahomes asserts, is instrumental in nurturing the potential of budding quarterbacks and enabling them to thrive under Kingsbury’s guidance.
Only time will tell if the Commanders made the right hire. They are receiving a lot of backlash for choosing to hire Kingsbury over former offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy. Both candidates are more than qualified for the job.
It will be interesting to see what Kingsbury is able to do with the Commanders’ offense. At the very least, he has the ringing endorsement of the Chiefs’ superstar quarterback. And Patrick Mahomes’ endorsement is a great one to have.
Want the latest NFL and NCAA Football analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
