"Maybe Kliff will just resign, he's tired of the B.S." - Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury relationship at all-time low, claims NFL insider
Could Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury be on the way out? The fourth-year head coach's team was eliminated from playoff contention last week after another disappointing season. Afterwards, while speaking to reporters, the 43-year-old seemed stressed about his tenure with the team. When a reporter noted that he had been a head coach for a few years, Kingsbury said, ten years and then said that it felt like "100 years".
Inside Kliff Kingsbury dynamic in Arizona, w/ palpable tension with QB1 in the building, a GM w/ far less presence in 2022 and questions from some close to him about whether he walks away.
‘This is not sustainable’
From @joshweinfuss and me
espn.com/nfl/insider/st…
"Maybe Kliff will just resign, he's tired of the B.S." - ESPN Source
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Josh Weinfuss, those close to Kingsbury have wondered whether he will decide to leave the Cardinals on his own terms after the completion of the 2022 NFL season. If he doesn't do so on his own, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill may decide to fire Kingsbury because of his disappointing 28-24-1 record and no playoff success.
Unnamed sources also believe that the relationship between the head coach and his quarterback Kyler Murray is not good at this point. The head coach is known as a 'players coach', but in this case, he and Murray don't see eye-to-eye on offensive playcalling. It was shown on the field during games when the two had verbal altercations.
He has also wanted to make personnel changes throughout the season, but ownership wouldn't allow that. The head coach may feel that this situation is no longer sustainable and will leave on his own accord.
Kliff Kingsbury avoids confrontation with players
According to Jeremy Fowler, Kliff Kingsbury's personality doesn't allow him to be confrontational. An unnamed former player told Fowler that it is a very comfortable place to work, but the head coach won't publicly call anyone out. He said that since the head coach won't do it, then the players don't feel like they can do so. This leaves a long-lasting issue amongst the team.
"It’s a very comfortable work environment, but he won’t rip anybody, and if the head coach won’t do it, it’s hard for the offensive guard to do it. I think that’s some of what’s gone on with the QB.”
This setup clearly isn’t working on or off the field. Michael Bidwill has to fire Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim at the end of the season.
The player also said that is what the issue with Kyler Murray currently is. Nobody seems to be holding him accountable. He was seen yelling at his head coach, but he won't be told the same thing.
The Arizona Cardinals signed Murray to a five-year contract extension worth $230.5 million, and with that being said, there is no way that the team will part ways with the quarterback. Which leaves the coaching staff to take the brunt of the criticism.