Eric Bieniemy has deserved this level of attention for a long time

Eric Bieniemy should have been given this level of attention a long, long time ago.

These days, Eric Bieniemy is the Trevor Lawrence of potential coaching hires. To hear (or read) NFL analysts discuss the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator is to hear them fawn over the possibility of a team getting the chance to install him as their new head coach. They celebrate the motivational side. They highlight his creativity. They salute his readiness, as if he’s the safest bet any owner could make at the position.

To those analysts, I’d just like to ask one question: Where have you been?

Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs are considered the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season, but they also just won last year. Yes, the Chiefs offense is as thrilling as any single unit to come along in years, but they were just as devastating in 2019 and even 2018 for that matter. Yes, Bieniemy has learned a ton from so much time alongside Andy Reid, but the stood beside him since 2013.

Yes, Eric Bieniemy deserves this level of attention, but the truth is that he’s deserved it for quite some time.

When the music stopped during the last round of musical coaching chairs, Bieniemy was somehow the candidate left standing without a place to call his own. The New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Football Team, and Cleveland Browns all wanted to change directions, to halt the misery of losing or, at least, sustained mediocrity. The Cowboys didn’t bite—didn’t even offer him an interview—but the other four brought him in for some face time and then decided to go elsewhere.

The unfortunate cycle that allowed Bieniemy to return to Kansas City for another season as O.C. was a boon for the defending champs but an embarrassing turn in the bigger picture. Not only was it outrageous that such a qualified minority head coaching candidate was spurned by so many, but it was also a repeat of the previous year.

In 2019, Bieniemy was newer to the offensive coordinator role for the Chiefs, but there were also more job openings. Bieniemy turned down a chance to interview with the Arizona Cardinals but instead took meetings with the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals. The Bucs were also reportedly in there. And, of course, those teams went elsewhere.

After Bieniemy endured the cycle of 2019, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid even stepped out and publicly endorsed someone to hire away his right hand. It’s the most admirable quality about Reid at this point—how much a leader gets out of the way is the greatest measure of all—and it was clear that Reid wanted his bright young OC to step out of the nest and succeed on his own. This is what Reid had to say nearly one year ago:

"“I’d say hire him, right now. That’s what I’d tell you. I don’t want to lose him but I mean if you’re asking me is he ready to be a head coach, yeah, he’s ready. He was ready last year.”"

This is why all of this is embarrassing. Bieniemy was ready for this two hiring rounds ago. Last year, Reid even bolstered the point by punching up Bieniemy’s stock and calling everyone a year late to the party. What more is there to even say at this point? What more does Bieniemy need to prove?

Even more, where was the spotlight when Bieniemy deserved it a year ago? Yes, some have been beating the drum for EB for some time, but it was never at the level where it is now. It’s as if Bieniemy is somehow this No. 1 quarterback prospect ready for the draft who just blossomed and is now ready—yet those who’ve been watching him closely, who’ve been listening to him for years, who’ve been taking Reid’s word for it know that he’s deserved a shot for quite some time.

At this point, Bieniemy is still waiting for a dance partner. It’s silly. The Jets and Cardinals passed and now there’s talks of Adam Gase and/or Kliff Kingsbury being on the hot seat. The Giants and Cowboys look like they definitely made the wrong calls already and they’re just four games into their decisions. Bieniemy deserved at least one of those roles and it’s actually amusing to think those same teams might play another game of musical chairs sooner than later.

There’s no such things as a sure bet when it comes to a head coaching hire, and that includes Eric Bieniemy. However, he’s as safe as it comes with an incredibly high ceiling, the best mentor possible, and now an absurdly long run of success in his current role. His players swear by him. His coach is begging someone to give him a chance. His track record speaks for itself.

It’s a wonderful turn to see everyone tripping all over themselves to give Bieniemy the attention he deserves. Here’s hoping it finally yields the job offer he’s been waiting for. But the only question here is where has everyone been all this time?