For the first time in a few years, the Kansas City Chiefs are unlikely to lose an assistant to another team’s head coaching opening.
When all is said and done this offseason, eight teams in the National Football League will have a new head coach calling plays. Five of those teams were interested in Eric Bieniemy.
Despite a busy week filled with interviews and a position of luxury, so to speak, from which Bieniemy even told the Arizona Cardinals that he wasn’t even interested in the conversation, it looks as if the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator will return to the team for another season. This time around, for reasons unknown, each franchise decided to go in a different direction.
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The only remaining team yet to hire their head coach is the Miami Dolphins, but even they are rumored to be leaning in one of two directions: Brian Flores of the New England Patriots or Kris Richard of the Dallas Cowboys. Those candidates are both defensive coordinators which even speaks to the preferred emphasis of experience—another strike against Bieniemy.
Bieniemy interviewed with the Dolphins along with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bieniemy likely faced some readiness questions given that he is still in his first full season on the coordinator level, but he’s been coaching under Andy Reid for six years now, and Reid’s coaching tree speaks for itself. Unfortunately for Bieniemy, the Bengals are enamored with the Rams’ Zach Taylor and the Jets and Bucs made quick work of the process by hiring Adam Gase and Bruce Arians, respectively.
Bieniemy will be a solid candidate every year that he serves as Reid’s offensive right hand. The Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears have already been rewarded for their trust in Reid’s men, and someone will do the same for Bieniemy. For now, it looks as if he will return in 2019 in hopes of more interviews next season.