Reports: Kliff Kingsbury won’t interview with Saints, will remain with Commanders, Jayden Daniels

Kliff Kingsbury’s not leaving a good thing in Washington.

The Commanders offensive coordinator will not interview with the New Orleans Saints for their head coaching vacancy, according to multiple reports. He instead will remain in Washington to run the offense helmed by breakout rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Kingsbury declined to conduct any interviews while the Commanders remained in the postseason, where they lost on Sunday to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship. The Saints are the only NFL team still seeking to hire a head coach and had requested an interview with Kingsbury that he will not take.

In his first year as Washington’s offensive coordinator, the Commanders ranked seventh in yards per game (369.6) and fifth in points per game (28.5) in the NFL. Daniels was a revelation after being selected with the No. 2 pick in the draft. He’s the odds-on favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year after a historic campaign that produced a 12-5 regular-season record and Washington’s first trip to the NFC championship game since the 1991 season.

It’s an enviable position for an offensive coordinator and one that Kingsbury ultimately opted not to abandon in search of his second NFL head coaching opportunity. Kingsbury coached the Arizona Cardinals from 2019-2022. The Cardinals fired him one season into a contract extension.

Who will the Saints hire?

While Kingsbury’s out of the mix, the Saints’ head coaching search goes on after they fired Dennis Allen midseason. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady has also reportedly pulled his name out of contention for the job.

Former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore are among the candidates reportedly still in the mix.