Kingsbury’s two-season stint with the Washington Commanders featured a high-water mark of a 12-5 regular season and an NFC Championship appearance in 2024, followed by a 5-12 campaign in 2025 that led to his firing along with defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The Commanders replaced Kingsbury’s staff with David Blough at quarterback/offense and Daronte Jones on defense.
Sources indicate Kingsbury views this Rams opportunity as a chance to deepen his understanding of the job’s inner workings and to learn from McVay as he gauges another potential return to head coaching in the NFL. The relationship between Kingsbury and McVay has long been close, and discussions about collaborating for a full season culminated in this 2026 arrangement.
The Rams themselves advanced to the NFC Championship in 2025, and quarterback Matthew Stafford announced his return for 2026 after earning NFL MVP honors at the NFL Honors ceremony. The pairing of Kingsbury’s offensive philosophy with McVay’s system will be watched closely as Los Angeles looks to sustain its postseason trajectory.
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels acknowledged the organizational transition during a Super Bowl Radio Row appearance, expressing trust in the Commanders’ direction and noting his eagerness to work with Blough after Kingsbury’s departure.
Blough and Jones were installed as the new focal points on offense and defense, respectively, as part of the Commanders’ post-Kingsbury reshaping. Kingsbury’s move to the Rams aligns with his intent to continue growing as a coach and to explore the head coaching path again, this time within a familiar, high-caliber NFL environment.
