DAN BICKLEY

Kliff Kingsbury’s house latest example of coach’s cool demeanor, vibe

Apr 28, 2020, 6:28 AM

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury at his home during the NFL Draft on April 23, 2019. (T...

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury at his home during the NFL Draft on April 23, 2019. (Twitter photo/@AZCardinals)

(Twitter photo/@AZCardinals)

Kliff Kingsbury doesn’t brag. He doesn’t flaunt. He understands celebrity culture and the destructive forces accompanying jealousy and hate.

That’s why his house matters.

It’s more than a cliché/meme/contemporary $4.5 million masterpiece in Paradise Valley. More than the newly-minted star of the NFL draft, so swank that it inspired Lego replicas.

It also offered a clean look into how much life has changed for the Cardinals head coach.

“I just wanted to have some fun with it,” Kingsbury said on Monday. “Show off the Chamber of Commerce weather we have here in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. Just enjoy it all.”

When Kingsbury was hired in Jan. 2019, the NFL’s old guard recoiled in horror. Sean Payton eviscerated the hiring without naming names. Kingsbury absorbed those verbal grenades, using the platform to pay homage to the Saints head coach.

But the biggest dogs never bark, and it was hardly an accident when Kingsbury called for a successful trick play against Payton when they finally met in late October, on the second play from the scrimmage.

Former head coach Rex Ryan wasn’t nearly as discreet, personally attacking Kingsbury in the middle of training camp.

“C’mon, college football,” Ryan said. “I hope it gets smoked. I really do, because I think it’s so boring. Kingsbury says, ‘Wait until Week 1.’ Oh, I can’t wait to see Week 1. They’re going to get whipped Week 1. Look, this guy … everyone talks about this great offense and all that. Yeah, if it’s fantasy football and you want points and yardage, that’s great. How about wins?

“Kingsbury, let’s face it, had the best player in our league (at Texas Tech). He was 13-16 with Pat Mahomes at quarterback. How about you worry about wins.”

Ryan is full of bad takes. He was 61-66 as NFL head coach, occasionally inspiring football players, mostly those on the other team. Kingsbury never makes that mistake.

But after two quarters as a NFL head coach, at halftime of a Week 1 home game against the lowly Lions, Ryan was more right than wrong. Kingsbury was anxious, his offense floundering, a head coach wondering if he really belonged.

And you know what else he was wondering about?

That house. One of the newest stars in the NFL.

“I’m not exaggerating,” Kingsbury said during The Ryen Russillo Podcast. “I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe just bought that house. I’m gonna be here two games and they’re gonna fire me.”

Kingsbury’s house is a powerful symbol in other ways. It’s like the trophies propped up behind Kurt Warner during stay-at-home television interviews. Or Bill Belichick wearing his Super Bowl rings to the NFL Combine. They are trinkets of success and credibility. They speak to the audience, especially resonant among young players.

It’s way more than money. Every player drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft could’ve paid for Kingsbury’s house with their signing bonus, from the $23.9 million slotted for Joe Burrow to the $5.4 million awarded to the 32nd pick in the draft.

It’s the swag. It’s the Kingsbury vibe. The Cardinals head coach is stylish and single, with three cellphones on the table. Cool enough to rarely buy socks and rarely wear hats. Young enough to have recruited a lot of players when they were coming out of high school.

When asked if his soaring brand was a tangible advantage for the Cardinals, Kingsbury instantly deferred to Larry Fitzgerald (“He’s done it better than anybody ever”); Kyler Murray (“two-sport athlete, has a lot of buzz about him”); Patrick Peterson (“always one of the coolest DBs, can play offense, can play defense and punt return); DeAndre Hopkins (“brings a lot of swagger … one of the top wide receivers in the game”); and Chandler Jones (“who’s up there in sacks.”)

As for Kingsbury’s house?

“I think people were just bored,” Kingsbury said.

Not now. Not anymore.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Dan Bickley

Joshua Dobbs #9 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass during the third quarter in the game against...

Dan Bickley

Cardinals’ upset win over Cowboys especially sweet for the polarizing Gannon

Sunday’s victory over the Cowboys was especially sweet. It was Arizona’s seventh victory over the Cowboys in its past eight tries.

22 hours ago

Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks warms up on deck during the first inning of the MLB g...

Dan Bickley

Diamondbacks seizing moment in final surge of regular season

The Diamondbacks are surging. They are having a moment. They are seizing the moment. They are again the talk of Major League Baseball.

5 days ago

Evan Longoria #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks slides into home plate to score the game winning run a...

Dan Bickley

Stellar 2023 MLB season has baseball back on track

It’s hard to define a great baseball season. You know it when you see one. We are witnessing one of the best in 2023.

6 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team that no one wants to play

Video: Bickley Blast: The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team that no one wants to play. Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports

6 days ago

Presented By...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Cowboys fans invasion of State Farm Stadium might be worst we’ve ever seen

Bickley Blast: Cowboys fans invasion of State Farm Stadium might be worst we’ve ever seen. Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Presented By

7 days ago

Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon against the Giants...

Dan Bickley

Jonathan Gannon’s State Farm Stadium woes continue in Cardinals’ loss to Giants

State Farm Stadium hasn’t been kind to Jonathan Gannon. Which is a problem if you’re the first-year head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

8 days ago

Kliff Kingsbury’s house latest example of coach’s cool demeanor, vibe