Eric Bieniemy made an interesting decision last season when he left his job as Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator to take on the same role with the Washington Commanders and head coach Ron Rivera.
The Commanders fired Rivera after a 4-13 season and replaced him with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Bieniemy, who had a season left on his contract, was fired and replaced with former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Will Eric Bieniemy Return to Kansas City?
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said, “I have no spots right now,” when asked if Bieniemy would be back in Kansas City next season. He added, “I will tell you his coaching future is great. I’m obviously a big fan of his, and I know the things that he can do.”
In 2013, Bieniemy became the Chiefs running backs coach in Reid’s first season in Kansas City. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018, and it was also Patrick Mahomes’ first season as the starting quarterback.
In five seasons with Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the Chiefs made the Super Bowl three times and won it twice. Kansas City led the league in total yards three times and in scoring twice.
Reid called the offensive plays even though Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator. Bieniemy interviewed for several head coaching jobs but was not hired. Some speculated he was not hired because Reid was the primary play-caller and that was the reason Bieniemy went to Washington.
Under Bieniemy, the Commanders’ offense was 24th in total yards and 25th in points scored. Washington has been 20th or worse in both of those categories since 2018. Before the season started, Rivera said some players thought Bieniemy’s coaching style was too hard for them. The head coach encouraged the players to speak directly with Bieniemy.
Bieniemy acknowledged that he was “intense” and added, “I’m always going to be loud, and I’m always going to be vocal. I’m always going to demand from our leaders.” He said he would be there to support his players at all times.
Bieniemy Visited the Kansas City Chiefs in Playoffs
The Chiefs got a surprise visit from their former offensive coordinator when Bieniemy visited the team in Baltimore before the AFC Championship Game. Reid said, “He actually came in and talked to our team before our last game. Talked to the offensive guys, hung out with us in our meetings.”
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Mahomes talked about seeing Bieniemy: “It’s always great to have EB in the building. Just being there, the energy that he brings, the mentality that he brings, you can feel because he has that intensity, but he loves it. He loves being there; he loves being a part of the team and being a part of that culture.”
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said, “EB was a special coach here for a long, long time, man. And he’s like my uncle or a father figure in the football world for me. And everybody knows how fired up he can get, and I definitely share that same passion to come into work every single day and to play this game. And one of my favorite coaches of all time.”
Mahomes added, “Just having him back in the building was really cool. Listening to him talk, his energy. I think guys had a little bit of chill bumps, like, ‘Hey, EB’s back here.'”
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