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Analyst explains why Commanders OC is the ‘biggest fraud’

Kliff Kingsbury. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Analyst explains why new Commanders OC is the ‘biggest fraud in football’

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/12/24

It certainly seemed the Washington Commanders had some covert motivation when they hired Kliff Kingsbury to be their new offensive coordinator.

After spending last year as part of the USC staff and working with projected 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, Kingsbury was added to the Commanders staff where he could potentially reunite with Williams.

However, the hire may not be the coup many believe it is according to CBS Sports’ Damon Amendolara, who told Craig Hoffman of The Team 980 on radio row during Super Bowl week that he believes Kingsbury is the biggest fraud in football.

“He has not succeeded anywhere he’s been to any significant degree,” Amendolara said. “When he gets the head coaching job at Texas Tech, he never had a winning record in the Big 12. He’s supposed to be a great offensive mind with Patrick freaking Mahomes and his best season is 7-5 and he lost in the Texas Bowl. Then he somehow fails upward to get the head coaching job with Arizona. … Every year it’s the same thing — they start off hot and they collapse down the stretch. … Then he goes to USC and Caleb Williams has a worse season with him then he had without him, and USC crashes and burns.”

Former Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury agreed to terms with the Commanders to become offensive coordinator...

The table asks the hard hitting questions for you ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IpV67wr74w
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) February 5, 2024

Amendolara’s assessment may not be that far off base.

Kingsbury posted a 35-40 record (19-35 in the Big 12) with a 1-2 bowl record in six seasons as head coach at Texas Tech, and a 28-37-1 record with one playoff appearance in four seasons as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

Then with Kingsbury on staff as a senior offensive analyst at USC, Williams threw for 904 fewer yards and 12 fewer touchdowns while winning just eight of 13 games the season after leading the Trojans to an 11-3 record and winning the Heisman Trophy.

“Now he’s going to take over a Washington gig because they’re angling for Caleb, perhaps, and they know there’s a familiarity there?” Amendolara added. “I just think this guy has never proven anything and keeps getting plum jobs.”

Kingsbury only has three years of experience as an offensive coordinator, and all three came at the college level. He was co-OC at the University of Houston in 2010 and 2011 before moving to OC/quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M in 2012, with plenty of success at both stops.

The Cougars ranked 11th nationally in total offense and 13th in scoring offense in 2010 and first in both categories in 2011, while the Aggies were third in total offense and fifth in scoring offense during Kingsbury’s lone season.

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