Kliff Kingsbury remains positive despite tough Commanders' season

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been really limited this 2025 season.

Imagine if you were the offensive coordinator and you didn't retain Dyami Brown (Jaguars) and Olamide Zaccheaus (Bears) due to free agency. Then you lost Noah Brown, Terry McLaurin, and Zach Ertz to injuries and a contract dispute.

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Then recall how running back Austin Ekeler made huge third-down plays throughout 2024, and Jayden Daniels enjoyed an extraordinary rookie season for an NFL quarterback. Both gone due to injuries. When Kingsbury was asked about the challenges of this season on Thursday, he responded, "I think this was just one of those years we weren't able to keep guys consistently out there that I think could have helped and that's part of this game and everybody deals with it and we gotta learn next time that if it happens, we got to be able to handle it better."

It's been one challenge after another for Kingsbury, who is now on his third quarterback this season (Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Josh Johnson). But Kingsbury, rather than whine about how difficult it has been, is choosing to look for a positive in it.

"I think the toughest seasons I've had are the ones I've learned the most and have been able to grow the most. And so, that's kind of how next week we'll look at it and approach it."

Most often thought of as a passing game guru, Kingsbury has actually directed and coordinated two good seasons of running the football for the Commanders. Washington, through 16 games, is fifth in the NFL, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. In addition, the Commanders are fourth in rushing yards in the league with 2,147.

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"I think being able to run the football like we've been able to and running it basically more than anybody in the league this year is unique to me and new, and that's the style that we needed to play," Kingsbury said. "And so, I think there's definitely positives you can gain from it. It's just you gotta do better when it comes to winning and losing."

Interestingly, Kingsbury was wrong about the Commanders running the ball "basically more than anybody in the league this year". Actually, the Commanders are 14th in frequency in which they have run the ball this season. But I suppose, for Kingsbury, the former college and NFL quarterback who played in the vaunted Air Raid offense, it may seem like they have run the ball more than anyone in the league this year.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Kliff Kingsbury upbeat despite 2025 struggles