As the Baltimore Ravens' search for a new head coach, one name that stands out is Kliff Kingsbury. The Ravens completed an interview with Kingsbury on Monday, marking the seventh person they've interviewed for their head coaching position. While at least five more interviews are on the way, Kingsbury stands out as a clear frontrunner, especially given his track record with quarterbacks.
We have completed an interview with Kliff Kingsbury for our head coach position. pic.twitter.com/tjbkLXASL6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 12, 2026
Kingsbury coached Patrick Mahomes during all three years of his college career. He went on to coach Kyler Murray for the first four seasons of his career, which resulted in Murray's best football in the NFL and his lone playoff appearances. Furthermore, Kingsbury served on USC's coaching staff during Caleb Williams' final season in college and was the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator with Jayden Daniels from 2024 to 2025.
Despite being fired, there's no denying Kingbury's resume, and he has gotten the most out of every QB that he has worked with. Lamar Jackson has already been one of the league's best QBs, but Kingsbury could help him reach another level, and that's a scary thought for the rest of the NFL.
Kliff Kingsbury could help elevate Jackson and the Ravens
While Kingsbury's work with Williams and Murray is nothing to gloss over, Mahomes and Daniels are the more notable names here. Kingsbury helped Mahomes grow from a three-star recruit to a first-round pick and one of the best QBs of all-time. Taking a rookie Jayden Daniels to the NFC Conference Championship game and helping lead an eight-win turnaround is also incredibly relevant.
Kingsbury helped maximize the Commanders' offense around Daniels' abilities as both a passer and runner. Given Jackson's similar style of play to Daniels, this is perhaps the most relevant achievement on Kingsbury's resume.
Jackson was riddled with injuries this past season and didn't have an elite season by his standards. There's no doubt in my mind that the two-time MVP will bounce back, though. Bringing in Kingsbury could help Jackson return to his elite play, and he might even reach another level. This could ultimately position the Ravens for a long-overdue Super Bowl run.
The Ravens' biggest strength is clearly Lamar and their offense overall. As such, it's understandable to prioritize an offensive-minded coach like Kingsbury.
Now, the argument for hiring a defensive-minded coach to restore a defensive culture is also reasonable. Regardless, the upside of a Kingsbury and Jackson pairing is tantalizing. Ultimately, Kingsbury will be a name to keep tabs on as the Ravens' head coaching search continues, and he very well could be the right man for the job.