Washington Commanders offensive coordinator and assistant coach Eric Bieneimy has much to prove. After five seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator, Bieniemy departed for Washington.
The Chiefs reached five straight AFC Championship Games and three Super Bowls, winning two with Bieneiemy. Yet, many have shunned Bieneiemy with proper credit because he wasn’t the primary play-caller for the offense. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid held the duties.
Some attribute the lack of credit to why teams passed Bieniemy over for head coach openings. Others, like former NFL player LeSean McCoy, point to Bieniemy’s coaching style — an aspect that Commanders head coach Ron Rivera caused a media stir about with his comments during training camp.
Nonetheless, Bieneiemy has the opportunity to dispel any negative assumptions, leading the offense of the Commanders.
Bieniemy is ready and fired up to start the new chapter of his career. So much so that the coach arrived at FedEx Field on Sunday for Washington’s season open with his playsheet in hand.
Eric Bieniemy opens new chapter as play-caller with quarterback Sam Howell
The Commanders open the 2023 regular season against the Arizona Cardinals, who expect to be in the hunt for the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Eric Bieniemy will enter his first season in Washington with an inexperienced quarterback.
Sam Howell was Washington’s fifth-round pick a year ago. He made his NFL debut in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys. The former North Carolina product has the keys to the Commanders’ offense.
Bieniemy will be calling his first game without Reid, while Howell will play his first NFL game as the primary quarterback.
They’ll have tools at their exposure with wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel. McLaurin is a full go for Sunday despite battling a turf toe injury.
Howell also has familiarity with Commanders’ fourth wideout, Dyami Brown. The two played together at North Carolina. Bieniemy certainly has some plays on that playsheet drawn up for Howell to connect with Brown.
