Former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury to join USC football staff, report says

Former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury is joining Lincoln Riley's staff at USC, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.

It will be Kingsbury's first foray back into coaching since the Cardinals fired the coach and parted ways with GM Steve Keim in January after a disappointing 4-13 2022 season.

The pair had received multi-year extensions from team owner Michael Bidwill after the previous season, a topsy-turvy 11-6 campaign that included a 34-11 NFC Wild Card loss to division rivals Los Angeles Rams. The Cardinals owe Kingsbury $30 million after signing him in March 2022 to an extension through the 2027 season.

Kingsbury joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, a surprising hire at the time after being fired by Texas Tech after compiling a 35-40 record in six seasons as head coach. Kingsbury did not fare any better with the Cardinals, finishing with a 28-37 record in four years running the team.

Riley and Kingsbury have personal history together, dating back to 2002 when Kingsbury was the starting quarterback for Mike Leach at TTU. Riley was a walk-on backup to Kingsbury that season.

Bidwill said there was no 'disconnect' with Kingsbury; Cardinals simply had to make a change

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kliff Kingsbury to join USC football staff, report says