ARIZONA CARDINALS
Mahomes, Brady speak highly of new Cardinals hire Kliff Kingsbury
Jan 8, 2019, 3:41 PM | Updated: 8:55 pm
Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, center, and Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, walk off the playing field defeating Baylor in an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
The NFL’s next superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a big believer in his former college coach, who now happens to be the Arizona Cardinals’ new head coach.
The Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller played under Kliff Kingsbury for all three of his seasons at Texas Tech and thinks he can succeed in the move from the college to the pros.
Patrick Mahomes, without yet knowing Kliff Kingsbury's destination, on what kind of NFL head coach he would make:
"I know he'd be able to relate to quarterbacks." pic.twitter.com/Vikgk8m0Lg
— Tom Martin (@TomKCTV5) January 8, 2019
“I think he could be a great NFL coach,” Mahomes said Tuesday prior to the news of Kingsbury going to the Cardinals. “He has the work ethic, he has the passion for the game. He loves this sport and I know he’ll be able to relate to quarterbacks.”
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Mahomes is at the top of the list of notable quarterbacks to play under Kingsbury. In his final junior season, Mahomes threw for 5,052 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 65.7 percent of his passes. His first starting season as a sophomore wasn’t too shabby, either, recording 36 touchdowns and 4,653 yards passing.
Kingsbury’s offenses with Mahomes ranked second and fifth in the country.
Along with Mahomes, Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum were also under Kingsbury’s tutelage. That, of course, is relevant to the Cardinals after selecting former UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the No. 10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
After starting only one game in his rookie season for the Chiefs, Mahomes exploded in 2018 to throw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns.
“He would put in the work and now it’s about finding out where he needs to be at,” Mahomes said of Kingsbury.
Turns out, that’s the Valley.
Mahomes isn’t the only superstar NFL quarterback to endorse Kingsbury.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady praised Kingsbury in an interview with Boston radio station WEEI.
“I played with Kliff, and we’ve been friends ever since,” Brady said Monday. “I see him from time to time. (Former Patriots and Texas Tech wide receiver) Danny (Amendola) still keeps in touch with him. He’s been a friend of mine for a long time.
“Kliff has done a great job at Texas Tech, and I know he’s at USC, but it doesn’t surprise me that a lot of teams are interested. He’s just a great football mind, and he’ll be successful wherever he’s at.”
