Did Kliff Kingsbury Ever Play in the NFL? A look at the former Cardinals HC's playing career

NFL coach Kliff Kingsbury is a former player. He was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick. The organization intended to raise Kingsbury under the shadow of Tom Brady when he was chosen with the 201st selection in the 2003 NFL Draft.

Although Kingsbury's career as a player in the league didn't quite pan out as he'd have liked, his experience with the Patriots, under the tutelage of Belichick, influenced the coach he grew to be.

Kingsbury's limited NFL playing career could be characterized as that of a journeyman. He never stayed in a team for longer than an entire season.

Kingsbury played for the Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL by the time he stopped playing football.

New England dismissed him before the 2004 NFL season, and over the next three years, he plied his trade for four different NFL teams and another CFL team. He last appeared on the league squad in 2006 with the Bills, until he eventually announced his retirement after the 2007 campaign.

Throughout his stay in the league, Kingsbury played in just one regular-season game, which occurred in 2005. It happened during the New York Jets' 0-27 loss to the Denver Broncos. Kingsbury completed 1 of 2 throws for 17 yards in that game.

During his four seasons as head coach, the Arizona Cardinals had a 28-37-1 record. He was fired after the club significantly underperformed in 2022.

Although Kliff Kingsbury's actual compensation following his dismissal is uncertain, the most accurate projections place it at about $5.5 million annually. By that valuation, the Cardinals will lose almost $20 million due to this decision.

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Kliff Kingsbury had a good high school and college career

At New Braunfels High School, where his father Tim served as the head coach, Kliff Kingsbury participated in high school football.

Kingsbury passed for 3,009 yards and 34 TDs as the signal-caller at New Braunfels. Kingsbury was officially enshrined in the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in May 2018.

During his collegiate career, Kingsbury was a center passer for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In his 43 outings at Texas Tech, Kingsbury completed 1,229 of 1,881 throws for 12,423 yards, 95 scores, and 40 interceptions. Following his playing career in college, Kingsbury owned several records.

In college football, Kliff Kingsbury became the No. 4 player to pass for more than 3,000 yards on three occasions.