We learned earlier this week that Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, who is set to become a coaching free agent, is not a lock to return to Kansas City. This morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that Bieniemy and KC head coach Andy Reid will soon sit down to discuss Bieniemy’s future with the club.
Bieniemy, 52, spent the 2013-17 seasons as the Chiefs’ RB coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018. That, of course, was the year that Patrick Mahomes became the team’s full-time starter at quarterback, and as a result of Kansas City’s tremendous offensive success over the past four seasons, Bieniemy has become a popular figure on the head coaching interview circuit.
Still, he has yet to land a head coaching post, and although he has publicly said all of the right things about that reality, it could be starting to weigh on him. Schefter suggests that the 2021 season, which ended with a devastating loss in the AFC Championship Game and which was capped by more HC interviews that did not lead to HC jobs, was mentally and physically draining for Bieniemy. The ESPN scribe adds that Bieniemy has considered returning to the college ranks — he served as Colorado’s OC for two years before joining the Chiefs and was connected to the USC head coaching post earlier this year — listening to other offers, or even taking the 2022 season off entirely.
The Chiefs almost certainly want him back, however. He does not call the team’s offensive plays, but Kansas City has never been out of the top-six in terms of points per game or yards per game under his stewardship, and former QB coach Mike Kafka, who would have represented a potential replacement, was recently hired as the Giants’ new offensive coordinator.
Perhaps Eric’s best option would be seeking a head coaching position at a mid-major.
That could show how effectively he could build a program and lead an entire squad — not just his charges on offense.
I think the biggest issue is his past, not that teams don’t think he’s a capable coach. He just needs a team willing to face that inevitable fire storm upon his hiring.
It seems ridiculous that Eric would have to justify his past yet Josh Gordon can get signed regardless of how many times he’s suspended.
@crosseyed- Josh Gordon’s transgressions were of a personal nature, while Bieniemy has had issues with assault, harassment, interfering with firefighters doing their work, reckless driving, etc. He even got banned from Colorado’s campus for a year. Not quite the same as smoking a little pot.
And for the record, I think Bieniemy still deserves a shot somewhere. He’s seemed to have cleaned up his act.
Bienemy’s transagressions were made when people were still worrying about how to save money on their long-distance land-line service, and figuring out how to use fax machines.
The Bienemy arguments flew out the window when Byron Leftwich was also passed by for a promotion, and when the only two Black couches hired were made following the lawsuit, and represented the third from last and last hires.
We know exactly what Bienemy’s problem is. Wrong appearance, doesn’t have a parent or sibling somewhere in another job or front office.
I don’t agree. I think most teams don’t think he’s really the OC on KC, he’s just holding a position but isn’t a true OC. He needs to leave KC and show he can do it somewhere else, without Mahomes. Apparently he’s a bad interview as well.
I get other current HCs have done far less and still got hired. Just my opinion on what EB should do next. If he’s content doing what’s he’s doing, then stay. However if he ever wants to be a NFL HC, I would leave KC.
Yeah, it might serve him well to serve as an OC under a defensive coach. That way, any offensive success would be considered his
@af- Based on everything I read, U of Colorado and EB had significant mutual interest but they weren’t sure about the optics. I think he could’ve landed a college opportunity by now, but who knows if just any job would intrigue him.
College is just such a different beast than NFL. That’s why is extremely rare for head coaches to do well in both leagues. EB might just want an NFL gig. If he did head to NCAA, his Alma Mater should be near the top of his list.
Might be the chiefs next head coach. Andy Reid won’t be there forever
Not a chance
Maybe the next step would be for him to really run the offense, including calling the plays. You know, like most OCs.
Is it most OCs under offensive head coaches these days? Sirianni didn’t. Reich didn’t. Lafleur didn’t under McVay.
O’Connell didn’t do it. Hackett didn’t do it.
Best move for him would be HC at CU, he is a legend there.
So he should go from super bowl winning OC to coaching a third tier college program while tight ends coaches and retired QBs get considered for jobs?
Accusations of sexual harassment among quite a few other violations is different from drug violations and nobody is asking Josh Gordon to be the face of the franchise.
“a few violations” which he did in/prior to 1993, almost 30 years ago. There are players in the league who weren’t born yet when he put that life behind him
Maybe his interviews just have not dazzled anyone? We need to stop being infatuated with a successful offensive/defensive coordinator as always the best head coach candidates. There’s so much more to being a head coach than a sound X and O scheme.
Interviews are a dicey criterion in hiring across many fields. People hire candidates who charm them or remind them of themselves instead of the best ones.
Honestly, the interview process is an overrated indicator of whether or not a person is a serious candidate.
Most people have an idea of who they want to hire, and the interview merely finds out if they are a jerk or have ideas they can’t work with.
Bienemy isn’t losing any jobs because of any interviews, and certainly not after four years in the circuit.
Since Reid calls the plays what does Eric B do
All these “ past transgressions “ yet all these clowns like Dan Campbell and any other White Young Asst Coach under the correct Head Coach gets hired. With Eric and Leftowich , what happened to Flores it is a complete joke. Anyone who believes it isn’t a racial issue just lives on the other side of the tracks. Unfortunately it is the world we live in today.
Why is Dan Campbell a clown? And you think the fact that Leftwich, who refused to interview for some jobs, didn’t get hired over a Super Bowl winner in Peterson is some big conspiracy against minorities, when the Jags owner is a minority himself? You sound like the clown.