With the Bears‘ coaching search well underway and expected to ramp up after their final game Sunday at the Packers, they likely have only one candidate who has experience working with quarterback Caleb Williams.
Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was a senior offensive analyst at USC last season, when Williams was a junior, and Williams spoke highly of their time together.
After listing many qualities he would value in the next head coach Wednesday — “A coach that challenges myself, but also challenges us as players, whether it’s on the field or character, a man of his word, a disciplined coach,” he said — Williams said Kingsbury, “fits a bunch of those.”
“I know what type of guy he is,” Williams said. “In many different aspects that I was just speaking about… He fits a bunch of those qualities that I said.”
The Bears interviewed Kingsbury last January for their vacancy at offensive coordinator, but passed on him in favor of Shane Waldron. The fired Waldron in November after just nine games, while Kingsbury has been one of the best assistant coaches in the NFL this season.
With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, Kingsbury has the Commanders fifth in scoring at 28.9 points per game, and they’re headed to the playoffs at 11-5.
Leading up to the Bears’ game against the Commanders in October, Williams described his relationship with Kingsbury as very helpful in preparing for the NFL.
“Great guy, great coach,” Williams said. “He’s a player’s coach. Knowing how much he loves football, he just brings joy to his players.”