ARIZONA CARDINALS

Kliff Kingsbury: Oklahoma job ‘not a topic I wanna touch on right now’

Nov 29, 2021, 10:58 AM | Updated: 10:58 am

(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)...

(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

The Arizona Cardinals didn’t have to play in Week 12 to make headlines this past weekend, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that Oklahoma is targeting head coach Kliff Kingsbury for its head-coaching vacancy.

It didn’t take long for Kingsbury to sidestep the report on Monday.

“Yeah, I don’t get into those things,” the head coach said. “My sole focus the last couple of weeks has been the Chicago Bears, and after watching them on Thanksgiving, it needs to be, because they’re a really good football team and had a big win. And so that’s where my focus has been.

“We’re in season, we’re 9-2, just not a topic I wanna touch on right now,” Kingsbury added when asked why he didn’t take the opportunity to squash the report.

Kingsbury, currently in his third season of a four-year deal that includes a team option in the 2023, is enjoying his best season at the helm in Arizona, which controls the No. 1 seed in the NFC through 12 weeks.

The prospect of heading back to college, an arena the head coach spent more than a decade in, right when the ship looks to be righted in the desert doesn’t make a ton of sense. Especially when Arizona entered the bye week first in more than a handful of statistical categories on both sides of the football.

And being fully engrained in football 24/7 is something Kingsbury lives for. There’s much more that goes into college beyond the on-the-field production, something he realized on his way to a 35-40 record at Texas Tech.

“I really enjoy just the professionalism that these guys approach the game with each and every day,” Kingsbury said. “They’re highly motivated, take care of their bodies, study the game. It inspires you to be a better coach and step your game up because you better come into that meeting room knowing what you’re talking about with a level of expertise and trust from those guys or you’ll lose them.”

For the head coach, it’s on to Chicago.

“I was in the movie room off the grid pretty much all day yesterday, so the [report] didn’t affect me one bit,” Kingsbury said.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Jonah Williams pressure Sam Darnold...

Tyler Drake

Report: Free agent DL Jonah Williams visiting Arizona Cardinals this week

Defensive lineman Jonah Williams is visiting the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings this week, according to Aaron Wilson.

8 hours ago

Casita seating at the Arizona Cardinals' State Farm Stadium...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals’ new suite options at State Farm Stadium include casitas

The Arizona Cardinals on Monday announced new luxury seating options for 2024, including custom casita suites at State Farm Stadium.

12 hours ago

Justin Fields...

Associated Press

Quarterback carousel: Bears trade Justin Fields to Steelers to clear way for top pick

The Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night for draft compensation.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray...

Arizona Sports

Report: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s 2025 guarantees kick in

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray had nearly $30 million guaranteed for the 2025 season kick in by remaining on Arizona's roster by Saturday.

2 days ago

Paris Johnson Jr. celebrates with Kyler Murray...

Tyler Drake

Which side of the line will Cardinals’ Paris Johnson Jr. command in 2024?

Even before the Cardinals released D.J. Humphries, there was already talk of Paris Johnson Jr. making the switch from right to left.

3 days ago

Marvin Harrison Jr. celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Marvin Harrison Jr. wasn’t opposed to joining Arizona Cardinals in 2023

Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals in 2024? That's what Paris Johnson Jr. predicted soon after getting pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

3 days ago

Kliff Kingsbury: Oklahoma job ‘not a topic I wanna touch on right now’