LAKE FOREST, Ill. — While the NFL world kept close watch on Caleb Williams‘ final season at USC in 2023, Kliff Kingsbury was living it alongside the eventual No. 1 overall pick.
After four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, which included coaching quarterback Kyler Murray through his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2019, Kingsbury spent last season back in college football as a senior offensive analyst for the Trojans.
He wasn’t picking out plays for Williams or communicating with him on the sideline. Kingsbury’s job had one overarching emphasis: get Williams ready for the NFL.
“[Trojans coach] Lincoln [Riley] allowed me to be the good cop, and [offer] any knowledge, anything I could share, particularly with [Williams],” Kingsbury said. “We all knew where he was going, and it was kind of a foregone conclusion that he’d be the first pick for a long time.
“So really, [I tried to be] a resource in any way that I could be, helping him try to mentally prepare for the things that were ahead.”
Williams was drafted by the Chicago Bears and Kingsbury made his return to the NFL as the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders. On Sunday when the two face off from opposing sidelines during the Bears’ Week 8 matchup at Washington (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), Kingsbury will get to watch the player he helped prepare for these moments. The one who did things that “reminded me of the guy I had at Texas Tech,” in reference to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“In this league and pretty much any league, if you don’t have one of those top, top guys, I mean … good luck,” Kingsbury said.
Williams is one in a long list of talented quarterbacks coached by Kingsbury. Their day-to-day interactions at USC endeared the quarterback to the person he views as a “players coach” and allowed him to get a jump start on preparing for his transition to the NFL.
“Tremendous person, competitor, freaky talent,” Kingsbury said. “Watching the stuff he would do in practice and in the games, his ability, his feel, really, really special.
“He’s going to be one of the top guys in the league for a lot of years, so that was cool to get to spend time with him last year.”
Williams said their conversations helped him prepare for moments like Sunday.
“I know there’s a bunch of rules in college,” Williams said. “There were certain things he couldn’t do, certain things he could do, but talking about football, talking about experiences that he’s had as a head coach, offensive coordinator, things like that at the pro level is what I got from him.
“So many times talking about it, asking questions so he could give me great feedback on this next level that I knew that I was probably heading to at that time. That was big for me being able to listen to him and obviously build a relationship with him knowing the QBs he’s been around and similarities in some of the offenses that I’ve been in. It was great to have those moments with him. I think it’s helped me for these moments now.”
There was a chance this offseason that the two would end up together in the NFL. Kingsbury was one of nine candidates that the Bears interviewed for their offensive coordinator job before hiring Shane Waldron.
Kingsbury declined to comment this week on the process of interviewing with Chicago. According to Bears coach Matt Eberflus, the Bears didn’t ask “too many” questions about Williams to Kingsbury, who gave positive reviews of the quarterback like the other candidates who interviewed.
Ultimately, Kingsbury went on to Washington where he would be paired with Jayden Daniels, who was taken No. 2 overall after the Bears drafted Williams. Through seven weeks, the offense that Kingsbury has built for his rookie quarterback is tied for first in points (31.3) and fourth in yards (384.1).
“I’ve always respected him, going against him over the years, and respect his offense and the way he finds space on the field, the way he’s committed to the run game,” Eberflus said. “But again, it was a pleasure to meet him personally, had a great visit for a good amount of time during that interview. And it was very informative to both parties.”
ESPN Commanders reporter John Keim contributed to this story.
