Henderson, Nevada. — The Las Vegas Raiders have hired former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, according to a source who spoke with The Associated Press Thursday night.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been finalised.
This is the first significant hire for new Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who was released from the interim tag on January 19. Kingsbury will be in charge of attempting to turn around a Las Vegas offence that was 27th this season yards per game (289.5) and 23rd in scoring (19.5-point average).
The Raiders will also have to make a decision at quarterback. Rookie Aidan O’Connell went 5-4 after being given the job, but worries linger about his ability to lead the Raiders into and through the playoffs.
”There haven’t been many years where I’ve been the unquestioned starter heading in, so I’m used to competing,” O’Connell explained last week.
The Raiders choose 13th in this year’s quarterback-heavy draft, but the top names are likely to be gone by the time Las Vegas’ spot becomes available.
Kingsbury, 44, spent the previous season at USC as an offensive analyst, working with quarterback Caleb Williams, who many believe will be drafted first overall. Prior to that, Kingsbury coached the Cardinals for four seasons, going 28-37-1.
Arizona went 11-6 in 2021 and made the playoffs, but the Cardinals suffered multiple serious injuries the next season and finished 4-13, prompting Kingsbury’s departure. The termination occurred barely ten months after the Cardinals signed him to a contract extension.
In addition to Kingsbury, the Raiders interviewed former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback coach Mike Sullivan, and former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pel.
