{"id":56157,"date":"2019-01-08T21:38:40","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T02:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=56157"},"modified":"2019-01-08T21:38:40","modified_gmt":"2019-01-09T02:38:40","slug":"arizona-cardinals-hire-kliff-kingsbury-as-next-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/01\/08\/arizona-cardinals-hire-kliff-kingsbury-as-next-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Cardinals Hire Kliff Kingsbury As Next Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arizona Cardinals<\/a> ended their coaching search by hiring former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury<\/a><\/strong>, the team announced Tuesday<\/a>. The last-placed Cardinals began surveying the coaching landscape after parting ways with first-year head coach Steve Wilks<\/strong><\/a>, who led the team to a dismal 3-13 record.<\/p>\n

Kingsbury signed a four-year deal with a fifth-year option, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.<\/p>\n

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Cardinals are giving new HC Kliff Kingsbury a four-year deal, with a team option for a fifth year, per league source.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Cardinals Hire Kliff Kingsbury As Next Coach<\/h1>\n

The Cardinals made their splash hire the same day as their former coach, Bruce Arians<\/strong>, came out of retirement to\u00a0sign on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>. Arians retired after the 2017\u00a0season and the Cardinals didn’t recover this past season.\u00a0Kingsbury takes on a team with an offense that ranked dead-last in total yards and points scored. They averaged only 14.1 points per game in 2018, meaning the 39-year-old has his work cut out for him.<\/p>\n

Kingsbury compiled a 35-40 record over the last six years as the head coach at Texas Tech. He oversaw the development of current NFL quarterbacks Baker Mayfield<\/a><\/strong> of the Cleveland Browns<\/a>, and Patrick Mahomes<\/a><\/strong> of the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>, a favorite to win NFL MVP. Kingsbury was fired after a disappointing 2018 campaign, which saw the Red Raiders go 5-7. His version of the air raid attack proved prolific during his stint, finishing in the top-six FBS scoring offenses twice. His Texas Tech squad finished 2018 with the 12th ranked offense in the country, averaging 485.2 yards per game.<\/p>\n

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim<\/strong> likely wanted to bring in someone to help young signal caller Josh Rosen<\/a><\/strong> develop. Kingsbury’s track record with quarterbacks proves to be promising.<\/p>\n

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.@AZCardinals<\/a> expected to hire Kliff Kingsbury as head coach.<\/p>\n

Kingsbury worked w\/ some notable college & NFL QBs.<\/p>\n

Josh Rosen ranked last in pass YPG (162.7) & passer rtg (66.7) in 2018.<\/p>\n

According to Next Gen Stats, Rosen threw in tight windows on 21.6% of passes (most in NFL). pic.twitter.com\/u50eyXe4Aq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 8, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kingsbury became the offensive coordinator for USC<\/a> after his firing but did not coach in a game for the Trojans. He begins his stint in Arizona with a young quarterback in Rosen and weapons such as running back David Johnson<\/a><\/strong> and receiver Christian Kirk<\/a><\/strong>. He’ll try to pair that with a talented defense led by edge rusher Chandler Jones<\/a><\/strong> to bring the Cardinals back to prominence.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>