Antonio Pierce on Magic Johnson of the Commanders coming in to kidnap Kliff Kingsbury

Give Magic Johnson credit for adding another assist to his career total. This one was in the Washington Commanders’ recruiting area, not on the Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball floor. Johnson was a major factor in getting offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to come to Washington to lead the offense.

One of the most inventive brains in the game is Kingsbury. It looked as though Kingsbury was headed to Las Vegas to join head coach Antonio Pierce’s staff, but before he signed a contract with the Raiders, Johnson intervened and made a strong effort to lure Kingsbury to Washington.

Before taking the full-time job, Pierce was the Raiders’ interim head coach last season. He appeared to be aware of Johnson’s appeal and showed no animosity toward the basketball legend.

“Things are happening, and teams are hiring. Hehe, Magic Johnson is not that bad. I suppose he still has a little more to give. I can accept losing to Magic if that is the case. Ultimately, if something isn’t meant to be, then it never will be.

Kingsbury will work with Dan Quinn, the new head coach of Washington, instead of being a member of Pierce’s coaching staff. The Commanders are hopeful that Quinn’s defensive prowess and Kingsbury’s offensive acumen can work together to help turn around Washington. With a 4-13 record at the end of the 2023 season, the Commanders were in last place in the NFC East.