NFL News: Kliff Kingsbury Reportedly Staying with Commanders, Won’t Eye Saints HC Job

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will reportedly return to the team next season and eschew interest from the New Orleans Saints, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.

The Saints had interest in interviewing Kingsbury for their head coaching position, but the Washington offensive coordinator turned down all interviews while Washington remained in the playoff hunt, and now has reportedly decided against leaving the organization altogether.

Kingsbury’s return to Washington doesn’t come as a huge surprise.

For one, New Orleans was arguably the least desirable head-coaching opening this winter. The Saints have a roster that just went 5-12 and a brutal cap situation. For now, the Saints are $50.2 million over the cap for the 2025 season, per Spotrac, meaning some tough roster decisions are forthcoming.

Now, the Saints will have the No. 9 overall pick in the upcoming draft, its own second-round selection and a pair of picks in both the third and fourth rounds, so the team will have a number of avenues to improve. But they’ll need to nail the draft, given their lack of flexibility in free agency.

Kingsbury, meanwhile, is returning a Washington team that just made a run to the NFC Championship Game, has a brilliant young quarterback in Jayden Daniels and had one of the best offenses in football this past season. If the Commanders continue to ascend next season, Kingsbury may have his pick of the openings in the 2026 coaching cycle.

And as PFT’s Mike Florio noted, “Kingsbury is being selective. He can afford to be. As previously explained, his Cardinals buyout extends into 2026. He’ll be making head-coaching money regardless of whether he stays where he is.”

He’ll bring a comprehensive résumé to the table once he does decide he’s ready to return to the ranks of head coach. He’s held the position for both Texas Tech (2013-18) and the Arizona Cardinals (2019-22), alongside serving as the offensive coordinator for Houston (2010-11), Texas A&M (2012) and the Commanders. In his many stops, he’s worked with quarterbacks like Daniels, Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel, among others.

While his Cardinals tenure resulted in just one playoff berth and a 28-37-1 record overall, the team improved in each of its first three seasons under Kingsbury before regressing to a 4-13 mark in 2022. But he rebuilt Washington’s offense in 2024 around the strengths of Daniels, and the results speak for themselves. Barring a major regression from the team in 2025, he’ll be a hot candidate next offseason.