Kliff Kingsbury takes coaching risk as he passes on interview chances

Kliff Kingsbury is expected to be among the most sought-after head coaching candidates this offseason, but he doesn’t plan to listen to other teams while the Commanders are alive in the postseason.

NBC Sports reports that Kingsbury is avoiding any head coaching interviews while he leads the Commanders’ offense in the playoffs, having yet to interview for any job virtually despite many candidates having already done so for vacant roles.

Teams began interviewing potential candidates last week, as assistants contracted by other teams were allowed to begin talking to potential employers last week through a virtual meeting only which can only last up to three hours, per league rules.

Kingsbury, 45, has requests in from the Saints and Bears to interview for their head coaching roles, both of whom have also been linked to Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, among others.

In-person interviews for assistants can begin on Jan. 20 unless that team is still active in the playoffs.

Kingsbury has helped develop Jayden Daniels to the second round of the playoffs. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Many teams are already moving quickly to find their next coach, putting Kingsbury on the outside looking in.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is in a similar position to Kingsbury, but he is taking virtual meetings and appears to be getting far down the road with the Raiders for their head coaching vacancy.

Should the Commanders upset the Lions in the Divisional Round, teams looking for a coach will likely be forced to move on from Kingsbury if he indeed refuses to interview virtually during the week leading up to the NFC Championship game.

Kingsbury has the luxury of still being paid by the Cardinals after he received a five-year extension after the 2022 season believed to be for $37.5 million. Kingsbury was fired by Arizona a season later, but has resurrected his coaching appeal with a solid season in Washington with the help of star rookie QB Jayden Daniels.

With the first round of interviews nearly complete for most teams, round two is expected to begin on Jan. 20 when league rules allow for assistants to interview in-person unless their team is still in the postseason.

Kliff Kingsbury is focused only on the Commanders. AP

The Jets have not yet requested an interview with Kingsbury or Johnson but did recently complete a virtual interview with Texas offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Should the Commanders lose to the favored Lions on Saturday night, Kingsbury can then interview with any team in person as teams ramp up their offseason plans.