The emotions raging across the NFL landscape about Eric Bieniemy’s new job as the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator are mixed.
On one hand, many were happy that Bieniemy will now have his chance to truly run his own squad on his own. That’s no slight to Andy Reid, as he’s been very vocal and clear about Bieniemy’s role and contributions to the Chiefs’ success.
On the other hand, it’s hard to celebrate as the move feels more like a lateral one, and that shouldn’t have to happen for someone with his type of resume.
Bieniemy began his coaching career in 2001 as the running backs coach at Colorado, where he became an All-American and still holds the all-time record for rushing yards (3.940) and TDs (42), for the Buffaloes. Two seasons later he headed to UCLA in the same role.
After three seasons with the Bruins, Beiniemy made the leap to the NFL as the running backs coach for the Vikings. After five seasons in Minnesota, he moved to Kansas City as the Chiefs’ running backs coach from 2013 – 2017. During that time, he worked with stars such as Jamaal Charles and rookie Kareem Hunt. In 2018, Reid promoted him to offensive coordinator after Matt Nagy left to take the head coaching job in Chicago.
That year Kansas City drafted Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ ascent as an elite NFL began.
Since Mahomes’ arrival, the Chiefs have dominated offensively and won two Super Bowls. Mahomes has become a 2x Super Bowl winner, 2x Super Bowl MVP, 2x NFL MVP and, arguably, the best quarterback in the game today.
Yet many conveniently forget about Bieniemy as the stats, accolades, awards and titles pile up for the Chiefs. It’s like he’s the offensive coordinator in title only and contributes nothing to KC’s success. That’s a narrative Reid has personally dispelled many times.
Despite Reid’s efforts, Bieniemy continues to be ignored and passed over for every head coaching vacancy.
In 2021, there were seven vacancies. In 2022, there were nine and this year there were five. Out of 21 total vacancies, three went to Black coaches, at a rate of one per year.
And Bieniemy, a 2x Super Bowl champion and offensive coordinator of one of the NFL’s elite offensive units, was never in contention for any of those jobs.
It’s not that he wasn’t interested, for he’s made it clear that he wants to be a head coach. He was interviewed a few times during this period, but the excuses for rejecting him were always the same.
Bieniemy doesn’t interview well. He doesn’t really call the plays for the Chiefs. He has a checkered history.
Meanwhile, white coaches with losing records, inexperience and lack of leadership are apparently more qualified than him for they keep getting hired.
Under Bieniemy, the Chiefs led the NFL in total yards per game (413.6), passing yards (5,062), scrimmage touchdowns (59) and total points per game (29.2) this past season.
Yet Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, whose defense was shredded by Bieniemy’s offense, was hired as the Arizona Cardinals’ new head coach.
So after being disrespected yet again, Eric Bieniemy chose to become the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders.
The offense features Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin and young talents like Brian Robinson, Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson and Antonio Gibson. So Bieniemy has a good nucleus to work with.
But the fact remains that he had to make a lateral move to prove that he was an integral part of the Chiefs’ success.
And that’s not right.
Eric Bieniemy mentored and coached 1,000-yard rushers Chester Taylor, Jamaal Charles and Maurice Jones-Drew (UCLA). Under his guidance, Adrian Peterson amassed 5,782 rushing yards and 52 touchdowns in four seasons. Kansas City’s assault on the league began under his leadership and Mahomes just might become the greatest quarterback the game has ever seen.
Based on that resume of accomplishments alone, teams should have been salivating to hire him as their new head coach, especially in a league that loves hiring OCs as head coaches.
Yet Bieniemy continues to be passed over, which further exacerbates the frustration felt by Black coaches across the NFL.
So now he has the opportunity to exclusively run Washinton’s offense and prove the doubters wrong.
If he succeeds, will he finally receive his shot at becoming a head coach?
I hope he does. But based on the league’s recent hiring practices, I’m hesitant to say yes.
And that’s why I celebrate Bieniemy’s new role with props and a side-eye.
