Cardinals fans can’t wait for Kliff Kingsbury to get away from the team.
The Arizona Cardinals are now 3-6. Just months after locking in QB Kyler Murray, head coach Kliff Kingsbury, and GM Steve Keim to long-term deals, the team is in shambles after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in week 9.
Last season, the Cardinals went 11-6 and finished second in the division. After beginning that season 7-0, Kingsbury and Murray looked like they could walk on water. But after finishing the season 4-6 and getting trounced by their divisional rival Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs, skeptics started to wonder whether the right pieces were in place.
But despite these open questions about Kingsbury and Murray, the Cardinals organization hitched its wagon to the pair. Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million dollar deal, making him one of the highest-paid QBs in the league. And Kingsbury inked an extension that locked him up until 2027.
Arizona Cardinals fans are looking past Kliff Kingsbury for next season
After a sluggish start, the Cardinals are sitting in last place in the NFC West. So far, Kyler Murray isn’t looking like he was worth the off-season contract. He’s 20th in the league in QBR and in the middle of the pack with six interceptions. Couple this with one of the worst defenses in the league, both in terms of total yards given up and points allowed and the overall record starts to make more sense.
With these collective failures, the finger-pointing has landed squarely on the head coach. Kliff Kingsbury came to Arizona after 6 years at Texas Tech (career record of 35-40). He led outstanding offenses during his tenure, but also some of the worst defenses in the country.
Some fans have been quick to point out that even with future NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes leading the Red Raiders, Kingsbury had a losing record.
Kliff Kingsbury went 16-21 with Patrick Mahomes as his QB. https://t.co/FnEB7KaGoY
— Hustle Chillson (@HustleChillson) November 7, 2022
His tenure with the Arizona Cardinals has charted a similar course–strong offenses while neglecting the defensive side of the ball. Kingsbury has a career-losing record in the NFL, and it’s starting to look like he’s completely lost the fans.
Kliff Kingsbury's job is to make this offense good.
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) November 6, 2022
Kliff Kingsbury's job is to have this offense on the same page.
Kliff Kingsbury's job, his ONLY JOB, is to make the offense good.
He's crippling the incredibly talented offensive roster the Arizona Cardinals have.
While Kyler Murray hasn’t been stellar throughout the season, fans have put the blame squarely on Kingsbury.
If anyone needs a study clause, it's Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury.
— Andy Kwong 🏈 (@akwong31) November 7, 2022
Kyler Murray can only do so much with everything breaking down around him. He's struggled this year but the ones to blame are the people above him.
And with the loss to the Seahawks in week 9, the calls for Kingsbury’s firing will grow louder and louder.
Kliff Kingsbury needs to be fired....The #AZcardinals have too much talent to be this undisciplined AND have this kinda record #Seahawks
— Dr. Jason Johnson (@DrJasonJohnson) November 6, 2022
If you lived in the same house as Kliff Kingsbury, you'd kick on 2nd down just to get it over with and get home too. pic.twitter.com/u5yTZeDDun
— Jeff D. Lowe (@JeffDLowe) October 26, 2020
We’ll wait to see whether he still has a job next week as the Arizona Cardinals suit up against the Rams in Los Angeles, or whether he’ll be watching from the comfort of his own home. Not a terrible place to watch a game.