Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has been linked to the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator opening for some time. Now the two sides are set to talk about the position.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Commanders will interview Bieniemy on Thursday. Many consider Bieniemy as the top candidate.
Bieniemy will be the eighth candidate to interview with Washington. The other seven include former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur, Commanders quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese, Miami Dolphins assistant Eric Studesville, Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach Thomas Brown, former Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London, San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Anthony Lynn, and former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
London has since taken a pass game coordinator position with the Tennessee Titans. Brown has interviewed with multiple teams since he met with the Commanders.
The Commanders had paused their interviews until this week while waiting for Bieniemy’s availability. Bieniemy just completed his fifth season as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. Kansas City claimed its second Super Bowl championship in four seasons, beating the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday 38-35.
The Chiefs have ranked in the top six in points and yards in each of Bieniemy’s five seasons as offensive coordinator. That includes this past season which the Chiefs’ offense was first in points and yards.
Why would Eric Bieniemy leave Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs for the Commanders?
Eric Bieniemy, head coach Andy Reid and two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes has gotten credited with Kansas City’s success. The Chiefs have reached the AFC Championship Game five years in a row, appeared in three Super Bowls, and won two.
Some may question why Bieniemy would leave such a great opportunity. However, Bieniemy got shut out of the head coach hiring cycles over the past three years. Some contributed that to the fact, Bieniemy isn’t the primary play-caller. That role is with Reid. Also, some hold Mahomes’ talents and Reid’s experience against Bieniemy.
NFL insider Peter Schrager details the benefits of Bieniemy leaving the Chiefs.
The Commanders are poised to enter next season with Sam Howell as the starting quarterback. Washington drafted Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He didn’t appear in a game until the Commanders’ season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. Howell started the game, threw, and ran for a touchdown in a 26-6 win.
Going from Mahomes to Howell would be a substantial drop-off in talent for Bieniemy. But the challenge presents a great opportunity for Bieniemy to strengthen his resume by developing a quarterback other than Mahomes without Reid.
Yes, head coach Ron Rivera is on the hot seat entering his fourth season in Washington. But, Bieniemy will get complete control of the offense and his one-year audition. And the result could land him the head coach opportunity that has been alluding.
