Eric Bieniemy is a former NFL player and coach who has been out of a job since January 2024. He was fired by the Washington Commanders after one season as their offensive coordinator. He has also been passed over for several head coaching positions in the NFL, despite his success with the Kansas City Chiefs. What led to his downfall and what are his chances of finding another job in the NFL or college football?
Eric Bieniemy’s missed opportunities for NFL head coaching positions
Eric Bieniemy was widely regarded as one of the top candidates for NFL head coaching positions in the past few years. He was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018 to 2022, where he helped them win Super Bowl LIV and reach two more Super Bowls. He was praised for his innovative play-calling, his leadership skills, and his ability to develop young talent like Patrick Mahomes.
However, Bieniemy was repeatedly snubbed by NFL teams who hired other coaches instead. He interviewed with seven teams in 2021, but none of them offered him a job. He interviewed with four more teams in 2022, but again came up empty. Some of the reasons for his rejections were his lack of experience as a head coach, his involvement in a sexual assault case in college, and his poor performance in interviews.
In 2023, Bieniemy decided to leave the Chiefs and join the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator. He hoped that this would be a stepping stone to a head coaching position in the future. However, things did not go as planned.
Future prospects for Eric Bieniemy
Eric Bieniemy’s tenure with the Washington Commanders was short and disappointing. He failed to improve their offense, which ranked 28th in the league in points scored and 31st in yards gained. He also clashed with the players and the management, who questioned his authority and his play-calling. He was fired after the Commanders finished with a 4-13 record, their worst since 2019.
Bieniemy is now looking for another job in the NFL, but his options are limited. He has been linked to some teams that need an offensive coordinator, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New York Giants, and the Denver Broncos. However, he faces stiff competition from other candidates, and he may have to settle for a lower position or a smaller salary.
Another possibility for Bieniemy is to return to college football, where he started his coaching career. He was the offensive coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes from 2011 to 2012, where he coached his alma mater. He has been rumored to be interested in the head coaching vacancies at Colorado, USC, and LSU. However, he may have to overcome some challenges, such as recruiting, academic standards, and NCAA regulations.
What led to Bieniemy’s departure from the Washington Commanders?
Eric Bieniemy’s firing from the Washington Commanders was not a surprise, given their poor performance and their organizational changes. The Commanders hired a new head coach, Dan Quinn, who was the former defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Quinn wanted to bring his own staff and his own vision to the team, and he did not see Bieniemy as a fit.
Quinn also hired a new offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, who was the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Kingsbury is known for his innovative and aggressive offense, which is based on the Air Raid system. He has worked with quarterbacks like Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and Patrick Mahomes, who was Bieniemy’s star pupil in Kansas City. Kingsbury’s hiring was seen as a major upgrade over Bieniemy, who was criticized for his conservative and predictable offense.
Summary of Eric Bieniemy’s career and achievements
Eric Bieniemy’s career as a player and a coach has been full of highs and lows. He was a star running back for the Colorado Buffaloes, where he won the national championship in 1990 and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He played nine seasons in the NFL for three teams, but he never became a starter or a Pro Bowler.
He began his coaching career in 2001 as the running backs coach for Colorado. He then moved to UCLA, where he coached Maurice Jones-Drew and other future NFL players. He joined the NFL in 2006 as the running backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings, where he coached Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. He then returned to Colorado as the offensive coordinator in 2011, but he was fired after two losing seasons.
He got another chance in the NFL in 2013, when he joined the Kansas City Chiefs as the running backs coach. He worked under Andy Reid, who promoted him to offensive coordinator in 2018. He helped the Chiefs become one of the best offenses in the league, winning a Super Bowl and reaching two more. He also developed Patrick Mahomes into a MVP and a Super Bowl MVP.
He left the Chiefs in 2023 to join the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator, but he was fired after one season. He is now looking for another job in the NFL or college football.
Conclusion
Eric Bieniemy is a former NFL player and coach who has been out of a job since January 2024. He was fired by the Washington Commanders after one season as their offensive coordinator. He has also been passed over for several head coaching positions in the NFL, despite his success with the Kansas City Chiefs. He is now facing an uncertain future, as he tries to find another opportunity in the NFL or college football. He has proven his skills and his achievements, but he has also faced some challenges and controversies. He is still hoping to fulfill his dream of becoming a head coach, but he may have to wait for another chance.
