Did Kliff Kingsbury Play In The Nfl?
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Kliff Kingsbury may be best known for his coaching career, but did you know that he also played in the NFL? Here’s a look at his playing career.
Kliff Kingsbury’s Career
Kliff Kingsbury is most well known for his work as a football coach, but he actually started his career in the NFL.Kingsbury was drafted in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He played college football at Texas Tech, where he set numerous passing records. After being released by the Patriots, he spent time with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets before retiring from football in 2005.
College career
Kliff Kingsbury played college football for the University of Houston from 1998 to 2002. He was a three-year starter at quarterback and led the Cougars to an 11-2 record and a conference championship in 2000. Kingsbury holds several school records, including most passing yards in a season (4,839) and most touchdown passes in a career (52). He was named Conference USA Player of the Year in 2000 and was a two-time first-team All-Conference selection.
NFL career
Kingsbury was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round (205th pick overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. He did not make the team’s 53-man roster, but was signed to the practice squad. After being released by the Patriots, he was signed to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. He finished the season with them and became a free agent after the year.
Kingsbury’s Coaching Career
Kliff Kingsbury is currently the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals, but he did not have a very successful career as an NFL player. Kingsbury was drafted in the 6th round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He was then waived by the Patriots and picked up by the Denver Broncos. He was again waived by the Broncos and claimed by the New York Jets.
High school coaching career
Kingsbury began his coaching career in 1998 as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, New Braunfels High School. In 2001, he became the quarterback coach at stopped at University of Houston, where he worked with future NFL quarterbacks Case Keenum and Kevin Kolb. After one year at Houston, Kingsbury was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas Tech University, where he would spend the next six years.
Kingsbury’s offenses at Texas Tech were some of the most productive in college football history. In his first year as offensive coordinator, the Red Raiders averaged 518 yards of offense per game (4th in NCAA Division I-A) and scored 45 points per game (5th in NCAA Division I-A). The following season, they averaged 567 yards of offense per game (1st in NCAA Division I-A) and scored 52 points per game (2nd in NCAA Division I-A). In 2007, behind future NFL quarterback Graham Harrell and receiver Michael Crabtree, the Red Raiders set an NCAA record by averaging 58.1 points per game. They also finished first in the nation in passing yards per game (417), total yards per game (589), and yards per play (7.64).
College coaching career
Kingsbury began his coaching career in 2008 as the offensive coordinator at the University of Houston, where he helped the Cougars to a 10–4 record and a victory in the Texas Bowl. In 2010, Kingsbury was hired as the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, where he helped the Red Raiders to an 8–5 record and a win in the TicketCity Bowl.
Kingsbury became the head coach at Texas Tech in 2013, and led the Red Raiders to an 8–5 record and a win in the Holiday Bowl. In 2014, Kingsbury led Texas Tech to a 7–6 record and a berth in the Cotton Bowl. In 2015, Kingsbury led the Red Raiders to an 8–5 record and another berth in the Cotton Bowl.
In 2016, Kingsbury guided Texas Tech to a 6–7 record and a loss in the Birmingham Bowl. In 2017, Kingsbury led the Red Raiders to another 8–5 record and a berth in the Camping World Bowl. In 2018, Kingsbury led Texas Tech to its third consecutive bowl game, but this time they lost in overtime to USC in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Kingsbury’s NFL Coaching Career
Yes, before Kliff Kingsbury was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, he was a quarterback in the NFL. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 6th round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He also played for the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos.
Houston Texans
Kingsbury’s first NFL coaching job was with the Houston Texans in 2012 as their quarterbacks coach. He was with the team for two seasons. In his first season, the Texans went 12-4 and made it to the AFC Divisional Playoffs. The next season, they slumped to 2-14 and had the worst record in the league. Kingsbury was then fired along with head coach Gary Kubiak.
Arizona Cardinals
In January 2019, Kingsbury was hired by the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the youngest active head coach in the NFL at the time at age 39. He inherits a Cardinals team that went 3-13 in 2018, matching the franchise’s worst record in 34 years. In his first season as an NFL head coach in 2019, Kingsbury led the Cardinals to a 5-10-1 record.
