Reports: Kliff Kingsbury to interview; Cardinals have ‘strong mutual interest’

USC offensive coordinator and former Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury is expected to begin interviewing for NFL jobs, according to multiple reports.

Jay Glazer of FOX reported Monday that Kingsbury was interviewing with NFL teams and that he may have resigned as offensive coordinator to do so, though that part wasn’t stated as fact. USC had previously reportedly denied interview requests for Kingsbury, who was hired this offseason to join the Trojans coaching staff.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter followed up by confirming that Kingsbury is expected to begin interviewing for NFL jobs, after “USC initially blocked him from doing so,” adding that the Cardinals and Jets both wish to speak with him.

Schefter also said that the “Arizona Cardinals and Kliff Kingsbury were said to have a strong mutual interest in each other, per league sources.”

The #AZCardinals, who have been waiting to talk with HC candidate Kliff Kingsbury, are now able to do so, I’m told. He’s still employed at USC, per team official, still on their website. It seems USC open the door here.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2019

The 39-year-old Kingsbury was most recently the head coach of Texas Tech, but was fired after leading the team to a 5-7 record in 2018. In six seasons as the Red Raiders head coach, Kingsbury had just two winning seasons and never finished with a winning record in Big 12 conference games.

Kingsbury has coached quarterbacks with NFL experience during his time in college, including Case Keenum and Johnny Manziel as an assistant coach with Houston and Texas A&M.

At Texas Tech, Kingsbury coached Patrick Mahomes and briefly coached Baker Mayfield before the latter transferred to Oklahoma to end his college career.

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