A huge domino has fallen in the National Football League that could help the University of Alabama if Nick Saban makes a move.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network broke the news Monday about the Arizona Cardinals firing Kliff Kingsbury.
Sources: The #AZCardinals have fired coach Kliff Kingsbury one year after giving him a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/NbefiAPRrh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 9, 2023
Cardinals part ways with HC Kliff Kingsbury. pic.twitter.com/NTB2WirJef
— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2023
Jacob Hardin of burncitysports.com also provides insight into Kingsbury’s termination from the Cardinals.
The 43-year-old head coach earned a contract extension from the team before getting fired. Kingsbury was a head coach for four seasons, leading the Cardinals to an 11-6 record in 2021 with Kyler Murray. As a former college quarterback under Mike Leach at Texas Tech, Kingsbury is one of the brightest offensive minds in the sport. Alabama fans have mentally moved on from Bill O’Brien after two years of not winning a national championship. The 53-year-old lacked creativity in his play-calling and fans want an innovative mind running the show. O’Brien’s contract expires after Feb. 28, and Kingsbury could be what the Tide needs.
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He has worked with some of the best quarterbacks in college football, including Case Keenum (Houston), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M), Davis Webb (Texas Tech), Patrick Mahomes II (Texas Tech), and Nic Shimonek (Texas Tech).
Mahomes is the most relevant of the bunch as a Super Bowl champion, but Kingsbury produced 3,000+ yard passing seasons from Keenum, Mahomes, and Shimonek while Manziel won the Heisman Trophy in 2012 at Texas A&M. Kingsbury assisted Manziel and Mahomes to become first-round NFL Draft picks. His offenses have allowed quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers to be successful. Alabama has a free-flowing scheme with Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian.
It returns to that style if Saban makes a move for Kingsbury.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
