Arizona Cardinals head coach has done well with quarterbacks

A group of collegiate signal-callers have been able to find success while working with the Arizona Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury

Back in January, the Arizona Cardinals hiring of Kliff Kingsbury was criticized by many of the league’s pundits. Many skeptics believe that the 39-year old will fail as a head coach in the desert. But while Kingsbury’s won-loss record (35-40) as Texas Tech’s main man was not impressive, his track record with quarterbacks certainly is.

When Cards’ team President Michael Bidwill and general manager Steve Keim set out to replace Steve Wilks, they had something specific in mind. The club had a young passer, Josh Rosen, who needed to be steered in the right direction. Kingsbury appeared to be the perfect choice for the job, although it’s now Kyler Murray who will need that guidance.

Kingsbury has worked with some talented quarterbacks at the college level. Stops at the University of Houston, Texas A&M and the previously mentioned Texas Tech have allowed the offensive guru to tutor some bona fide gunslingers. In fact, five of those players found their way to the pro game after being mentored by the young Kingsbury.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2018, spent three seasons (2014-16) under Kingsbury’s wing at Texas Tech. The partnership produced eye-popping results for the school’s “Air Raid” offense. Mahomes completed 63.5% of his passes for 11,252 yards and 93 touchdown tosses during his stay with the Red Raiders.

Case Keenum, who performed under Kingsbury at the University of Houston, was just as outstanding. The current Washington Redskin became the NCAA’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns and completions while playing for the Cougars. Kingsbury served as Houston’s co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and offensive quality control coach (2008-11) while Keenum was re-writing the record book.

While employed as Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2012, Kingsbury crossed paths with the volatile Johnny Manziel. The one-time Cleveland Brown completed 68% of his throws for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdown passes with Kingsbury running the show. Manziel was rewarded with the Heisman Trophy at the end of the campaign for his performance.

Before transferring to Oklahoma in 2014, Baker Mayfield spent a year with Kingsbury at Texas Tech. The current face of the Cleveland Browns’ franchise completed 64% of his passes for 2,315 yards and 12 passing scores for the Red Raiders. Mayfield somehow lost his starting job to Davis Webb, but went on to have a spectacular career with the Sooners.

Webb stayed with Kingsbury’s Red Raiders for a total of three seasons. The New York Giants’ third-round draft pick in 2017 totalled 5,557 yards through the air and 46 passing touchdowns while at Texas Tech. After losing his starting job to Mahomes, Webb transferred to the University of California in time for the 2016 campaign.

Kingsbury has built a career around mentoring young signal-callers. The success that he has had in that area is undeniable. The Cardinals’ organization can only hope that Murray will benefit from that expertise as well.