ARIZONA CARDINALS

New Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury ‘fired up’ for opportunity

Jan 8, 2019, 5:14 PM

Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury walks off the field after the team's NCAA college football game ag...

Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury walks off the field after the team's NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

(AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

Kliff Kingsbury spoke with ArizonaCardinals.com reporter Darren Urban about his move to the Valley for the first time since becoming the new coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

“To be part of such an incredible organization here in Phoenix — just fired up, excited to get my hands on the players and dig into it,” he said Tuesday.

The link for Kingsbury to the Cardinals isn’t too far fetched. With Arizona drafting former UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen No. 10 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, the franchise wanted to prioritize the next head coaching hire around the future of the franchise.

With Kingsbury’s flashy track record of past quarterbacks under his wing including Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield, Rosen hopes to be the latest to succeed under Kingsbury’s tutelage.

Kingsbury told Urban that he can look long-term and understand what the Cardinals’ plans are.

“I think you see where it’s going,” he said. “You see where it’s been, where it’s going. You have a young quarterback, lots of salary cap space and a team that continued to fight throughout the season so really honored to be here and excited to get to work.”

One of the biggest question marks with Kingsbury is his age at 39, but as with any coach in his position, the largest is him making his first jump from college football to the National Football League.

Kingsbury liked the timing of making the leap now, with the direction the league is headed in favoring high-powered offenses and bold playmaking. At Texas Tech, Kingsbury had back-to-back years with a top-5 offense in the country.

“I’m excited about it. I’ve been around football my entire life. I’ve played in this league, coached in the college level and always been fascinated by the NFL,” he said.

“The offensive trends going on these days — felt like it was a perfect time and just fired up to be here.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

2 days ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

2 days ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

3 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

3 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

3 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

3 days ago

New Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury ‘fired up’ for opportunity