Kliff Kingsbury has built one of the more unusual careers in American football. A record-setting quarterback at Texas Tech, a sixth-round NFL Draft pick, an offensive coordinator who helped develop Johnny Manziel, Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray, and a head coach at both the college and NFL levels, Kingsbury has spent more than two decades moving between some of football’s most important offensive environments.
His career has also taken him through several very different stages. He became a star quarterback at Texas Tech, worked his way into coaching through the University of Houston, became Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator, returned to Texas Tech as head coach, led the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL, joined USC as a senior offensive analyst, and later became the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator.
For the 2026 NFL season, Kingsbury has taken another step in his coaching career. He joined Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams staff as assistant head coach after spending the previous two seasons running Washington’s offense.
Kliff Kingsbury Biography
He was born on August 9, 1979, in San Antonio, Texas. Kliff Kingsbury grew up in New Braunfels, Texas, where football became an important part of his childhood.
His father, Tim Kingsbury, was a football coach and teacher at New Braunfels High School. Kliff eventually played quarterback for his father and developed into one of the most accomplished high school players in the area. Kingsbury’s mother, Sally, died in 2005 after battling soft tissue sarcoma.
He also has a brother, Klint Kingsbury. Texas Tech’s official records list Tim and Sally as his parents and Klint as his brother. Kingsbury attended New Braunfels High School and played multiple sports, including football, baseball, basketball and track.
As a senior quarterback, he threw for 3,009 yards and 34 touchdowns while leading New Braunfels to a 13- 2 record and the Class 5A Division II state semifinals.
The season represented a major turnaround for the program after the team had finished 4- 8 the previous year. Kingsbury also recorded six comeback victories during his senior campaign and graduated third in a class of 450 students.
His performances earned him recognition as the San Antonio area offensive player of the year and helped him secure a scholarship to Texas Tech.
Kingsbury attended Texas Tech University and studied management. He graduated from Texas Tech in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in management. His academic achievements were significant enough to complement his success on the football field.
In 2002, he was named the Academic All-America Player of the Year and received a National Football Foundation postgraduate scholarship.
His combination of academic and athletic achievements made him one of the most decorated players in Texas Tech history.
Career
Kliff Kingsbury played quarterback for the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 1999 through 2002 after redshirting in 1998. He became the starting quarterback during the 2000 season and developed into one of the most productive passers in college football.
Across his Texas Tech career, Kingsbury played 43 games and completed 1,231 of 1,883 passes for 12,429 yards, 95 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. He finished his college career having set 39 school records, 16 Big 12 marks and 17 NCAA records according to Texas Tech’s official historical records.
2000 Season
Kingsbury’s first full season as Texas Tech’s starting quarterback came in 2000. He started all 12 games and completed 362 of 585 passes for 3,418 yards and 21 touchdowns.
He also contributed as a runner, scoring two rushing touchdowns.
2001 Season
In 2001, Kingsbury continued to establish himself as one of the Big 12’s leading quarterbacks. He completed 365 of 529 passes for 3,502 yards and 25 touchdowns while throwing only nine interceptions.
His performance earned him second-team All-Big 12 recognition from the conference coaches.
2002 Season
His senior season was the defining year of his college career. Kingsbury completed 479 of 712 passes for 5,017 yards and 45 touchdowns.
He was named the Associated Press Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and won the Sammy Baugh Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top college quarterback.
He also finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting. By the end of the season, Kingsbury had become one of the most productive quarterbacks in NCAA history.
NFL Playing Career
Kingsbury entered the 2003 NFL Draft after his record-setting career at Texas Tech. The New England Patriots selected him in the sixth round with the 201st overall pick. His first NFL season was interrupted by an arm injury, and the Patriots placed him on injured reserve in August 2003.
Kingsbury subsequently spent time with several professional football organizations. His playing career included the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe, Buffalo Bills, Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He also played for Team Texas in the All American Football League. Kingsbury eventually transitioned away from playing and into coaching, where his career would become considerably more prominent.
Texas Tech records describe his professional playing career as lasting five years and covering five NFL teams, as well as opportunities in the Canadian Football League and other professional leagues.
Coaching
Kingsbury began his coaching career with the University of Houston. He joined the Cougars in 2008 as an offensive quality control assistant. He later moved into coaching quarterbacks and eventually became co-offensive coordinator.
The experience gave Kingsbury an opportunity to work closely with Houston quarterback Case Keenum and develop his offensive philosophy. His progression from quality control assistant to coordinator became the foundation for his eventual rise to major college football’s head coaching ranks.
Texas A&M
Kingsbury joined Texas A&M in 2012 as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. That season became a major turning point in his coaching career.
He worked with quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy during the 2012 season. Texas A&M’s offense averaged more than 552 yards per game and ranked among the country’s most productive offenses.
Kingsbury’s work with Manziel dramatically increased his reputation around college football and helped position him for the Texas Tech head coaching job.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech hired Kingsbury as its head coach on December 12, 2012. At 33, he became one of the youngest head coaches in major college football.
The appointment was particularly significant because Kingsbury returned to the university where he had established himself as a record-setting quarterback.
He became the first former Red Raider to return to Texas Tech as the program’s head coach. Kliff Kingsbury’s First Season at Texas Tech Kingsbury immediately produced results.
Texas Tech finished the 2013 regular season with an 8- 5 record and defeated Arizona State 37 to 23 in the Holiday Bowl.
The victory made him only the second coach in Texas Tech history to win a bowl game during his first season.
The season also helped reinforce the reputation he had built as an innovative offensive coach.
Texas Tech Coaching Record
Kingsbury spent six seasons as Texas Tech’s head coach from 2013 through 2018. His final record was 35 wins and 40 losses, including a 19 and 35 record in Big 12 play. Texas Tech reached three bowl games during his tenure.
The Red Raiders went 8 and 5 in his first season, 4 and 8 in 2014, 7 and 6 in 2015, 5 and 7 in 2016, 6 and 7 in 2017 and 5 and 7 in 2018. Texas Tech announced in November 2018 that Kingsbury would not return for the 2019 season.
Arizona Cardinals
After leaving Texas Tech, Kingsbury made the move to the NFL as a head coach. The Arizona Cardinals hired him in January 2019. The Cardinals gave Kingsbury a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth season.
His appointment attracted considerable attention because he had no previous NFL coaching experience, despite having already established a strong reputation as an offensive innovator and quarterback developer.
The 2021 season was the high point of Kingsbury’s Arizona tenure. The Cardinals finished the regular season 11- 6 and qualified for the playoffs. Arizona’s offense ranked eighth in total offense, eighth in touchdowns scored and 10th in rushing offense.
The Cardinals had improved from five wins in Kingsbury’s first season to eight wins in his second and then 11 wins in 2021.
In March 2022, Arizona extended Kingsbury’s contract through the 2027 season. Kingsbury’s time in Arizona ultimately ended after the 2022 season.
Coaching Record in Arizona
Kingsbury finished his four season tenure with the Cardinals with a 28 and 37 and 1 regular season record. His teams went 5 and 10 and 1 in 2019, 8 and 8 in 2020, 11 and 6 in 2021 and 4 and 13 in 2022.
Arizona reached the playoffs once during his tenure, following the 2021 season. Kliff Kingsbury at USC After his departure from Arizona, Kingsbury spent time away from an NFL head coaching position. USC hired him as a senior offensive analyst in 2023.
At USC, he worked around Lincoln Riley’s offensive system and was involved with the development of quarterback Caleb Williams.
The move gave Kingsbury another opportunity to work with a highly regarded young quarterback while remaining involved in an innovative college offense.
The Washington Commanders
In February 2024, the Washington Commanders hired Kingsbury as offensive coordinator under head coach Dan Quinn. He joined Washington after his season at USC.
He took responsibility for an offense built around quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom Washington selected with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Kingsbury spent two seasons as Washington’s offensive coordinator. The Commanders reached the playoffs during his first season in 2024 and won two postseason games before losing in the NFC Championship Game.
During the 2025 season, Washington’s offense finished fourth in rushing yards per game at 134.7 and produced 2,290 rushing yards during the regular season. The unit also ranked fourth in red zone efficiency at 63.2 percent.
Current Job
As of the 2026 NFL season, Kliff Kingsbury is the assistant head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. He joined Sean McVay’s coaching staff after two seasons as Washington’s offensive coordinator.
The Rams officially finalized their 2026 coaching staff in February 2026 and listed Kingsbury as assistant head coach. Before joining Los Angeles, Kingsbury reportedly interviewed for several offensive coordinator and head coaching opportunities before choosing to work with McVay and the Rams.
His current position represents another stage in a career that has included quarterback development, offensive coordination and head coaching at both the college and NFL levels.
Kliff Kingsbury’s Net Worth
Kliff Kingsbury’s net worth is estimated at $10 million. His career has included major college coaching contracts and several NFL coaching positions, including his four-year tenure as Arizona’s head coach and his current position with the Rams.
The Texas Tech contract alone was reported at $10.5 million over five years, with the potential to reach $13.5 million through bonuses.
