ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders moved quickly to fill their offensive coordinator position, hiring former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury, multiple sources told ESPN on Sunday night.
But the Commanders weren't done and added Joe Whitt Jr. as their defensive coordinator, according to sources.
They are the first big moves for new coach Dan Quinn, who has led the defense throughout his career. Kingsbury had been close to joining the Las Vegas Raiders as their offensive coordinator until contract negotiations broke down Saturday. Washington spoke with Kingsbury that day and the deal was completed on Sunday.
Shortly after news broke that Kingsbury would be joining the staff, Whitt's hiring was reported. From the moment Quinn took over as Commander on Thursday, Whitt was considered the leading candidate to become his defensive coordinator.
Whitt, 45, has been a coach in the NFL since 2007 but has never been a coordinator. He coached one season in Atlanta (2020) with Quinn and joined him again in Dallas in 2021 as the Cowboys' secondary coach and passing game coordinator. Whitt has served as the passing game coordinator since 2018 for three different teams.
During his three seasons in that role with Dallas, and with Quinn as coordinator, the Cowboys ranked eighth in passing yards allowed, third in completion percentage and third in quarterback rating.
Kingsbury, 44, coached the Cardinals for four years until he was fired after the 2022 season. He competed in the same division as new Washington general manager Adam Peters, who had worked with the San Francisco 49ers until who was hired by the Commanders last month.
Eric Bieniemy, who has one year left on his contract, served as the Commanders' offensive coordinator last season.
In Kingsbury's first season in Arizona, when quarterback Kyler Murray was a rookie, the Cardinals' offense ranked 16th in points and 21st in yards. But in Year 2, he jumped to 13th in points and sixth in yards.
Arizona ranked 11th in points and eighth in yards in Kingsbury's third season before falling to 21st in points and 22nd in yards in his fourth season when Murray suffered a torn ACL in Week 13.
Washington's offense has not ranked higher than 16th in any category since 2016. It has ranked in the top 10 in points or yards only five times since 2000.
But the Commanders, who own the No. 2 pick in April's draft and will seriously consider drafting a quarterback, now have a coach with experience working with young quarterbacks. Kingsbury spent last fall as USC's senior quarterbacks coach and offensive analyst, working directly with Trojans signal-caller Caleb Williams, the projected No. 1 pick in the draft.
Kingsbury also drafted Murray at Arizona and, as head coach at Texas Tech, worked with Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield.
The Commanders also have Sam Howell, who has started the last 18 games at quarterback and will be entering his third season. Howell and Drake Maye, a possibility with the second pick, played in a version of the Air Raid offense in North Carolina under former Tar Heels coordinator Phil Longo.
Kingsbury also interviewed with Chicago for the offensive coordinator vacancy, but the Bears hired Shane Waldron.
