1:29pm: Neither the Commanders nor the Ravens have hired an offensive coordinator, and neither team can interview Bieniemy until after Super Bowl LVII. Bieniemy’s statement regarding OC jobs notwithstanding, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes (on Twitter) he remains a prime candidate for both Baltimore and Washington.
A move to either team would not be a lateral shift; both the Commanders and Ravens are looking for their next play-caller. Each team has proceeded methodically here. The Commanders’ job became open on Jan. 10; the Ravens moved on from Greg Roman on Jan. 19.
9:58am: Another team with Eric Bieniemy on its interview wish list filled its offensive coordinator vacancy this week. The Titans promoted from within, elevating Tim Kelly to the post.
Tennessee is not the only franchise to show interest in Kansas City’s OC for a non-head coaching position this year. Baltimore and Washington requested Bieniemy interviews weeks ago, but the 10-year Chiefs staffer — whose inability to land a top coaching job has drawn extensive scrutiny over the past several years — said he has only taken one interview this year. Bieniemy spoke with the Colts about their HC position, but no other teams reached out to him regarding their top sideline gigs.
“I have not taken any interviews for any offensive coordinator positions. I’ve only taken one interview, for a head coaching position. Right now, I’ve interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts. I thought it went great,” Bieniemy said, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala (on Twitter). “We’ll see where that goes. Now, as far as the offensive coordinator stuff, right now I am where my feet are. And right now I’m focusing on helping us win this game this weekend.”
The Colts are proceeding with one of the most thorough HC interview processes in recent history, potentially planning a third round of meetings. Bieniemy not confirming he spoke with the Colts a second time may well point to yet another team bypassing him. The Colts have interviewed eight candidates twice, including Shane Steichen, who is in the same scheduling boat as Bieniemy due to NFL rules regarding Super Bowl assistants. Bieniemy was linked to being a finalist for the Indianapolis job, but that was before the host of second interviews went down.
Heavy Bieniemy HC interest emerged in past offseasons, but it has waned. The five-year Chiefs OC only interviewed for two of the 10 available jobs last year and one of this year’s five openings. Despite the Chiefs leading the league in offensive DVOA after trading Tyreek Hill, Bieniemy has not received too much credit for the team’s success with Patrick Mahomes. Andy Reid, understandably, has received the bulk of the praise for best stretch in Chiefs history. Bieniemy’s persistent hurdle has led teams to inquire about his interest in becoming a play-calling OC, in an effort to show he can lead a successful offense independent of Reid. Though, past Reid Kansas City lieutenants Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy secured HC jobs during Alex Smith‘s stay as K.C.’s starter.
Bieniemy has reached agreements to stay in Missouri in each of the past two offseasons. He re-signed via a one-year pact in 2022, Jhabvala adds. While the former NFL running back did not confirm he would be back with the Chiefs in 2023, saying he will “have that conversation with coach Reid at that particular time,” the team would naturally have interest in retaining its OC. The Chiefs may yet again have the opportunity to retain Reid’s right-hand man.
Yeah, until he’s calling plays then there’s no reason to give him a HC job. Reid and Mahomes are just too good to really know what Bieniemy is really contributing. And no one would want another Hackett situation.
Funny how that didn’t stop Pederson or Reich or Sirianni from getting jobs.
None of them have a history dating back to college of smacking and shoving women.
That’s not the reason he gave.
Or being a bad interview, which has been reported many times.
Funny how I would think the same thing about them regardless of who it is. It may work out sometimes but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be hesitant to go that route when the OC or DC isn’t the primary one making decisions or responsible for the results. There’s too much HC turnover every year as it is.
And many of the most successful head coaches don’t primarily call plays anyway. It’s become an overstated portion of what coaching is.
We got bit off of my main point though, which is that Reid and Mahomes are the ones responsible for the Chiefs success. Much like Hackett was not responsible for the Packers success with LaFluer and Rodgers. That’s why I mentioned them specifically. Obviously there are other coaches that have proved themselves even if they aren’t calling plays. But in this specific instance, Bieniemy needs to show something that separates himself from one of the greatest coaches of all time, and probably one of the best QB’s ever.
And my main point is that tons of coordinators have gotten head coaching jobs for working with great QBs and under playcalling head coaches, including several Reid assistants, and Reid has had a lot of former assistants go on to successful head coaching careers, yet Bieniemy gets that held against him more.
Ok dude. You just like to argue with people. Not taking the bait on responding to you anymore. You’re annoying AF
OK. I don’t care for your talking points either. Cheers.
I agree with Oooof that the whole play calling thing is overrated. 95% of play calling is pre determined by in-game situations such as score, field position, down & distance, time remaining, weather conditions and of course player availability.
I’d like to better understand why YOU think he’s not qualified but Pederson & Nagy were?
I didn’t say I thought Pederson and Nagy were. In fact, I never mentioned them at all. But I believe I did say that I would “think the same thing about them regardless of who it is.”
All you had to do was read.
I would love to know what the drawbacks are where this guy is concerned. Seems strange that he’s been floating out there for years and other guys with lesser resumes are getting HC jobs
You make zero good points
Love the second to last sentence in the article… “the team would naturally have interest in retaining its OC”. Not so sure about that.
I really wish they’d level the playing field and freeze ALL hiring until after the Super Bowl.
The ban on interviews of candidates still in the playoffs was a nice start.
But I can’t help but think a guy like EB or any candidates on the Eagles have to get a little distracted by all the positions being filled, while they still can’t interview.
There’s no way KC is getting EBs full attention the last 2 weeks, even without interviews.
That really isn’t fair to his current players, and it’s not his fault.
Eric Bieniemy is Sherman Lewis version 2
Bieniemy ain’t getting interviews because he’s a bad interview who probably says you know a crap load of times
I’d be inclined to hire the “bad interview” candidate who has a mind of his own rather that the “good interview” candidate who just says what he believes you want to hear.