- Became an NFL head coach for the first time when hired by Arizona on January 8, 2019. Kingsbury came to Arizona after spending six seasons (2013-18) as the head coach at his alma mater, Texas Tech.
- In the first year under Kingsbury in 2019, the Cardinals offense displayed a dramatic improvement from 2018, including a 60.4% jump in points scored and a 91.7% increase in total scoring drives.
- In 2019, the Cardinals scored 25+ points in a game nine times, posted 400+ net yards in a game five times and went without a turnover in a franchise record seven games.
- Recognized as one of the profession's brightest and most-innovative offensive minds, Kingsbury has built a reputation for his work with quarterbacks. Under Kingsbury's tutelage, Arizona's first-year QB Kyler Murray – the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft – was named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season and was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate.
- Among the QBs Kingsbury mentored in the college ranks were first-round selections Patrick Mahomes (2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl LIV MVP), Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel as well as Case Keenum, Davis Webb and Nic Shimonek. Under Kingsbury's guidance, Mahomes (2016) and Keenum (2009, '11) both led the nation in passing.
- In eight seasons (2011-18) as a head coach/offensive coordinator at the college level, a Kingsbury-led offense never finished outside the top-20 in the nation in total offense and never finished outside the top-15 in passing offense.
- While at Texas Tech, Kingsbury served as the play-caller for one of the college football's most explosive and productive offenses. The Red Raiders featured a passing attack that ranked in the top-10 in the country in all six seasons of his tenure, ranked in the top-20 nationally for total offense in all six seasons and finished in the top-25 in scoring five times.
- Kingsbury also coached at Texas A&M (2012) and at the University of Houston (2008-11) where he began his coaching career.
- At both Houston (2011) and Texas Tech (2016), Kingsbury's offenses led the nation in total offense and passing offense.
Kliff Kingsbury was named Arizona's head coach on January 8, 2019 when he signed a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth. The 41-year old Kingsbury came to Arizona after spending six seasons (2013-18) as the head coach at his alma mater, Texas Tech. The New Braunfels, TX native is a 12-year coaching veteran who also spent three seasons (2003-05) in the NFL as a player.
ARIZONA: In Kingsbury's first season with the Cardinals, the team boasted a 60.4% increase in points scored and a 91.7% increase in the total number of scoring drives compared to 2018. Arizona's offense went from #32 overall in scoring in 2018 to #16 in 2019 and went from #32 overall in scoring drives in 2018 to number #9 in 2019.
After scoring 25+ points in a game just once in 2018, the Cardinals scored 25+ points in nine games in 2019. Over the final three months of last season (Weeks 5-17), only New Orleans (10), San Francisco (9) and Baltimore (9) had more games with 25+ points than Arizona (8).
Known for his work with QBs in the college ranks, Kingsbury helped guide first-year signal-caller Kyler Murray, the #1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, to AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors last season while also being named a Pro Bowl alternate. The former Heisman Trophy winner set franchise rookie records for wins by QB (5), passing yards (3,722), TD passes (20), completions (349), attempts (542), 300-yard games (5) and games with multiple TD passes (8). He also established a franchise record for rushing yards by a QB (544) on his way to becoming just the sixth quarterback in NFL history, and second rookie, with at least 3,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in a season.
In addition to a drastically improved passing attack in 2019, the Cardinals also featured a resurgent run game last season. After finishing the 2018 season ranked #32 in the NFL in rushing yards per game and rushing average, Arizona ranked #10 in rushing yards per game (124.4) and #2 in rushing average (5.03) in 2019. The Cardinals 5.03-yard team rushing average established a new franchise single-season record and the team's 1,990 rushing yards were the most in a single season since 1988.
TEXAS TECH:Kingsbury spent six seasons as the head coach at Texas Tech where he also called the plays for the Red Raiders high-powered offense that annually ranked among the top units in the country.
The Red Raiders featured a passing attack that ranked in the top-10 in the country in all six seasons of Kingsbury's tenure, ranked in the top-20 nationally for total offense in all six seasons and finished in the top-25 in scoring five times. In 2016, Texas Tech led the nation in total offense (566.6 ypg), passing offense (463.0 ypg) and ranked fifth in scoring offense (43.7 ppg).
Under Kingsbury, Texas Tech averaged at least 30 points per game, 470 total yards per game and 300 passing yards per game in all six seasons. The Red Raiders averaged over 500 yards of offense in four seasons and over 450 passing yards twice. In 24 games against ranked opponents, the Red Raiders offense averaged 502 yards per game.
Kingsbury's star pupil at Texas Tech was QB Patrick Mahomes, who was selected 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and has earned 2018 NFL MVP Honors and Super Bowl LIV MVP honors in his first three seasons. Mahomes helped rewrite the history books during his tenure with the Red Raiders, eclipsing the 5,000-yard mark as a junior in 2016 to become just the third quarterback ever to record 5,000+ yards of total offense in back-to-back seasons.
OTHER COACHING CAREER: Kingsbury began his coaching career at the University of Houston under current University of Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin as the offensive quality control coach (2008-09) prior to being elevated to quarterbacks coach (2010) and co-offensive coordinator in 2011.
With Kingsbury serving as co-offensive coordinator in 2011 and calling the plays, Houston led the nation in total offense (599.1 ypg), passing offense (450.1 ypg) and scoring (49.3 ppg). Keenum was selected as the Sammy Baugh Award winner as the nation's top quarterback and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting.
Kingsbury spent the 2012 season at Texas A&M as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach again working under Sumlin. Texas A&M finished third nationally in total offense (558.5 ypg) with an attack that ranked 13th nationally in rushing (242.1 ypg) and 14th in passing (316.5 ypg). The Aggies beat #1 Alabama on the road and #11 Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.
In his only two seasons as an offensive coordinator (2011-Houston; 2012-Texas A&M), Kingsbury was named Offensive Coordinator of the Year both years by FootballScoop.com.
Following his tenure as head coach at Texas Tech, Kingsbury was hired as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at USC prior joining the Cardinals.
PLAYING CAREER: Kingsbury had a prolific career as a quarterback at Texas Tech (1999-2002), playing his last three seasons under Mike Leach where he set 39 school records, 16 Big 12 marks and 17 NCAA records during his collegiate career while throwing for 12,423 yards and 95 touchdowns. As a senior in 2002, he was awarded the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation's top college QB and was also named the Associated Press Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year while finishing ninth in Heisman Trophy voting.
At Texas Tech, Kingsbury recorded more than 12,000 passing yards and total offense, including over 1,000 completions, making him just the third player in NCAA history to accomplish all three feats.
He was drafted in the sixth round (201st overall) of the NFL Draft by New England in 2003 and spent his rookie season on the Patriots injured reserve list before spending the 2004 season on the Saints practice squad. Kingsbury played in one game with the Jets in 2005 and completed one of two passes for 17 yards. He played with the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe in 2006 before attending training camp with the Bills that summer. Kingsbury finished his playing career in the Canadian Football League by playing with the Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2007.
PERSONAL: Kingsbury grew up and played high school football under his father, Tim, at New Braunfels (TX) High School where he threw for over 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior in 1997 to lead the Unicorns to the Class 5A Division II state semifinals just one year after finishing 4-8. New Braunfels finished Kingsbury's senior season with a 13-2 record, which included six come from behind wins. In 2018, Kingsbury was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
While at Texas Tech, Kingsbury was one of 14 collegiate football players to receive a post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. He was also awarded with Academic All-America Player of the Year honors in 2002, the highest academic honor for a player in Texas Tech history. Kingsbury earned a bachelor's degree in Management from Texas Tech in 2001.
