The Washington Commanders have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2024 NFL season. Projected by the sportsbooks to finish the year with somewhere around 7 wins, they reached that mark by Week 9, and are off to their best start since 1996. Should they pick up a win over the Eagles on Thursday Night Football, they’ll move into sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
One of the main reasons for the teams’ success has been the play of their rookie quarterback. Selected second overall behind Caleb Williams, it has been Jayden Daniels who has looked like the best first-year pass thrower in the NFL this season. In his first ten starts, the LSU product has thrown 9 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions, and ranks 4th in QBR among names like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. After decades of rotating players in and out and the position, it looks as though the Commanders have found the franchise QB that they’ve been searching for.
If the #Bears move on from Matt Eberlus in the offseason, #Commanders Kliff Klngsbury is expected to be at the top of the LIST #DaBears
Kingsbury as a good history with Caleb Williams. pic.twitter.com/YmVO6ny2OU
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) November 13, 2024
QBs Who Have Played Under Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury
One person who has likely been a major contributor in the early success of the Commanders and Daniels is offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Known as one of the better young offensive minds in the game for the past decade, Kingsbury has worked with some big name and elite quarterbacks during his time as a coach. He has made a handful of stops already in his career, in roles ranging from quarterbacks coach to head coach, and has proven to have success with the QBs under his tutelage.
University of Houston (2008-2011) – QB Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Quarterback: Case Keenum
Kingsbury’s first job was at the University of Houston, and his quarterback was Case Keenum. Keenum’s production exploded in the new coach’s first year on the job, leading all of FBS in completions, completion percentage, and yards. In Kingsbury’s second year, Keenum added touchdowns to that list.
To this day, Keenum holds some of the most prestigious quarterback records in NCAA history. He wasn’t as stellar in the pros after going undrafted, having his best year with the Vikings in 2017.
Texas A&M (2012) – QB Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Quarterback: Johnny Manziel
We of course know the story of Johnny Manziel flaming out in the NFL, but don’t forget that he was one of the most electric college quarterbacks that we have seen in recent memory. Much of it started with the arrival of Kliff Kingsbury in 2012. The coach stayed just one year as the team’s offensive coordinator, but turned Manziel into the only freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy.
The success that he had with quarterbacks at his first two coaching stops made Kingsbury a sought-after commodity, and it wasn’t long before he landed his first head coaching job.
Texas Tech (2013-2018) – Head Coach
Quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes
In his first season as head coach at Texas Tech, Kingsbury had freshman Baker Mayfield on his roster. Before the quarterback eventually transferred to Oklahoma, he split time with Davis Webb, and the two combined to throw for 32 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Then came Patrick Mahomes. Now known as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL, Mahomes rose to fame under Kingsbury’s watch. His junior season saw him lead the Big 12 in touchdown passes (41), and he threw for more yards than any other college quarterback that year (5,052).
Arizona Cardinals (2019-2022) – Head Coach
Quarterback: Kyler Murray
The Cardinals held the #1 overall pick in the 2019 Draft in Kingsbury’s first year as the team’s head coach, and they drafted Kyler Murray out of Oklahoma. While the team didn’t have much success during his four years at the helm, Kingsbury helped make Murray the Offensive Rookie of the Year that season. And in the two seasons that followed, he was named to the Pro Bowl.
In those four years, Kingsbury led his team to just one winning season and a single playoff appearance. He was let go after the 2022 campaign.
University of Southern California (2023) – Senior Offensive Analyst
Quarterback: Caleb Williams
It is unclear exactly what the job description of “Senior Offensive Analyst” entails, but we know that Kingsbury worked with Caleb Williams at USC. Williams had already made a name for himself by winning the Heisman Trophy in 2022, but had an efficient junior year while working with the new “analyst”, which was enough to be selected with the first overall pick in the most recent draft.
Jayden Daniels was, of course, drafted second overall by the Commanders.
