Matt Nagy is likely out the door in Kansas City. His contract with the Chiefs is up. Other teams are calling with potential promotions. It's a near certainty that Patrick Mahomes will be working with a new offensive coordinator in 2026. It's possible that head coach Andy Reid decides to bring back a familiar face to Chiefs Kingdom or elevate a positional coach into the role, but if he's up for a fresh face, a dream scenario just landed on the open market.
The Washington Commanders just made the decision to part ways with Kliff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator after a miserable year for the franchise marred by injuries. With Jayden Daniels out for much of the season, Kingsbury's offense lacked bite and ranked No. 22 overall in both points scored and total yardage.
That Kingsbury is a free agent for hire at the same time Patrick Mahomes needs a new coordinator feels like a rather obvious marriage, at least from the outside looking in.
It's hard to imagine a better marriage at this point for the Chiefs coaching staff than a Kliff Kingsbury addition.
First, fans are clamoring for Reid to bring in someone from the outside to reinvigorate an offense that looked stale for much of the 2025 season. Big investments at wide receiver aren't progressing as hoped. The backfield has been the league's least dynamic for years. Player usage has been questionable, and play calling has been stubborn. If Reid draws from a familiar well to fill such an important role, some fans will be livid.
Not that fans should have a say in what happens, but the idea of Kingsbury to K.C. has merit well beyond the sentiment of those in the stands. Kingsbury was, of course, Mahomes' college coach at Texas Tech and is widely regarded as a creative playcaller who could bring an impressive perspective and imagination to a Chiefs franchise looking to rebound from a six-win season.
Mahomes led the nation in passing yards and touchdowns in his final two seasons at Texas Tech, and Kingsbury will know very well how to utilize his strengths. However, he will have also gained plenty with the pro experience he's earned since moving on from the college ranks.
Kingsbury has been a head coach before with the Arizona Cardinals, and despite being canned by the Commanders, he might earn some looks once again as teams look to hire a new leader. But what's most likely is that Kingsbury will settle for a lateral move with the hope of improving his stock going forward. What better way to do that than to work with Mahomes and an offense that should see an influx of talent in free agency and the draft to turn things around.