NEWSLETTER
A Bears-Cardinals matchup should be highlighting a potential shootout between Justin Fields and Kyler Murray. Instead, we can’t help but start our week obsessing over potential coaching moves that could dictate what the future holds.
No, not *THAT* one. The other one.
With the football coaching carousel spinning in a wild and uncontrollable manner, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury found himself entangled with rumors that he is a person of interest in Oklahoma’s search. Kingsbury has just one year left on his contract. And, naturally, the thought of him leaving the NFL for a return to college seems far-fetched. Moreover, the timing and placement of this storyline felt like a plant to kick-start extension talks in Arizona. After all, few things drive up a coach’s market price like another team clamoring for your services.
Kingsbury could’ve put it all to rest when addressing questions on Monday. Instead, this is what Kingsbury was offering publicly:
Later question to Kliff asked why he wouldn't just say he has no interest in the Oklahoma job:
"We're in-season, we're 9-and-2, just not a topic I want to touch right now."
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) November 29, 2021
That is as impressive of a job evading the question as you’ll see from a coach these days. It’s the kind of side-stepping of something speeding in your general direction that even Kyler Murray would appreciate.
Whether Kingsbury has interest in coaching Oklahoma might be irrelevant. The most important thing to come of this is that he has some leverage in negotiating power. Because while traditional common sense would laugh at the mere notion of leaving the pros to coach college, one who thinks outside-of-the-box sees the the astronomical rate at which college coaches are being paid to leave their previous employers and probably wants in on that action.
And why not?
LSU's offer to Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is a 10-year deal that will take him north of $100 million with incentives, sources tell @BrodyAMiller and me.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) November 30, 2021
Lincoln Riley USC contract details (not confirmed; best I could do):
– $110 million
– USC buying both his homes in Norman for $500,000 over asking ($1 million bonus)
– Buying a $6 million home in LA for him
– Unlimited use of the private jet 24/7 for family#Sooners #Trojans— Robert Hefner V (@RobertHefnerV) November 29, 2021
By the looks of things, Kingsbury has 100 million reasons why he wouldn’t flat-out say he has no interest in the Oklahoma opening.
I wonder if we’re at a point where NFL owners hate the college booster system that allows teams to throw previously unthinkable gobs of money at coaches. Jon Gruden was reportedly given a $100 million contract by the Raiders. But new coaches don’t tend to reach those levels.
Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll are the only active NFL coaches getting north of $10 million per year these days, per NBC’s reporting. Meanwhile, Matt Rule checking in with an $8.5 million salary per year is the exception to the rule. Otherwise, newer coaches — i.e. Robert Saleh ($5M), Matt LaFleur ($5M), Joe Judge ($5M) seem to settle around $5 million per year. Kingsbury, who would fall under that umbrella as a coach still on his first contract, leads that group with a $5.5 million salary. In other words, Kingsbury probably sees escalating college salaries, compares to where the NFL is sitting, and is willing to use this opportunity to get some more cheddar thrown his way. And if he has to use public negotiations to get his bread, then so be it.
At the end of the day, I see myself bringing this entire conversation back to the Bears. It is becoming painfully obvious that the time to make necessary changes in the coaching department is coming. Moreover, the cost of making said changing is rising. And the Chicago Bears should be aware of what is going on in the market. Prices are only going up from here. So it would be prudent to attack quickly before things get too out-of-pocket. Just saying…
