The chances of Kliff Kingsbury returning to the NFL team that drafted him are decreasing by the minute.
The USC offensive coordinator's name surprisingly popped up Sunday when Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported the New England Patriots are preparing for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to leave for a head coaching gig -- and could eye Kingsbury as his potential replacement.
Kingsbury has other lines in the water, though. After interviewing for the New York Jets' head coach opening Monday, the 39-year-old will meet with the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports.
USC initially blocked the Jets and Cardinals from interviewing its young offensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, but it appears Kingsbury is a legitimate head coach candidate who now has been allowed to pursue that opportunity.
Kingsbury likely would covet an NFL head coach job over the Patriots' coordinator job -- which may not be available, anyway. After the Green Bay Packers passed on McDaniels on Monday to hire Matt LaFleur as their new head coach, the expectation is that McDaniels will remain in New England next season.
Kingsbury still is a name to watch for Patriots fans; the Pats drafted him out of Texas Tech in 2003, and quarterback Tom Brady lauded him as a "great football mind" Monday. But it looks like a reunion only would be possible if NFL teams pass on the former Texas Tech quarterback and McDaniels decides to move on after the 2019 season.
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