The Washington Commanders have recently added Kliff Kingsbury to their staff after they have hired him to be their offensive coordinator.
Kingsbury, the Super Bowl XXXVIII champion, was selected in the 2003 NFL Draft in the sixth round as the 201st pick. He played with teams including the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Cologne Centurions, Montreal Alouettes, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In 2002, he was also awarded the AP National Offensive Player of the Year and in the same year, he was also a recipient of the Sammy Baugh Trophy. He started his coaching career in 2008 when he joined the University of Houston football staff as their offensive quality control coach.
However, his recent hiring as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator under head coach Dan Quinn has garnered the attention of ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith who has cited other reasons for his hiring.
Smith stated that Kingsbury’s selection by the Commanders squad is an example of a kind of opportunity that is not extended to black individuals.
Stephen A. Smith on Kliff Kingsbury continuing to get jobs based on his relationships and not his football resume: "This is the kind of stuff that doesn't happen for Black folks" pic.twitter.com/ieYGmTVqu0
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 5, 2024
According to TMSPN, he shared, “I challenge anybody in football to tell me I’m wrong about this: this man is more known for his relationships with quarterbacks and that stylish home he showcased during the NFL Draft than he is for winning football games. That is a fact. It cannot be disputed.”
Smith further continued stressing the historical perspective considering black coaches when analyzing the diversity seen in the league regarding the matter.
He further stated, “When we talk about diversity, we certainly saw Black coaches getting hired and all that other stuff, that’s not where I’m going. I’m saying from a historical perspective, we look at a guy like Kliff Kingsbury and you know what we see as Black folks? ‘Ah, see, this is the kinda stuff that don’t happen for Black folks’.”
Kliff Kingsbury’s recent appointment as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders has sparked discussions beyond his coaching credentials. Stephen A. Smith’s commentary, highlighting Kingsbury’s visibility for his brand and relationships rather than a winning track record, raises important questions about the opportunities extended to individuals in the NFL, particularly those of diverse backgrounds.
