Has Eric Bieniemy’s desire to coach Texans changed in recent days?

Media reports about Eric Bieniemy’s desire to land in Houston are mixed these days.

Before the NFL’s coaching carousel began to pick up in late December and early January, it was clear that Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was going to be a hot commodity. After meriting several interviews over the last two offseasons, Bieniemy simply had too much experience to not earn more opportunities—and an eventual position—this year as well.

In the early going, it looked as if the Houston Texans were going to be the likely landing spot for Bieniemy. Interim head coach Romeo Crennel commented on Bieniemy’s readiness for the job, and Deshaun Watson was also asked about it as the season ended. After Bill O’Brien‘s tenure as head coach, it was clear the organization was going to search for an exciting new coach and Bieniemy seemed like the ideal candidate to help build a dynamic offense around an already elite quarterback.

Even oddsmakers had Bieniemy as the early favorite for the Texans job. While no one assumed anything was set in stone, especially given Bieniemy’s history of striking out despite heavy interest, it seemed like an ideal fit. Then suddenly, it was not.

In recent days, the dysfunction within the Texans organization has been further exposed with Watson’s reported frustrations and potential wish to be traded away. After last season’s heavily-critiqued trade of DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals and the toxicity of Jack Easterby in a leadership role, the Texans don’t seem too keen to veer away from their present course. It doesn’t help that the team is the only one who hasn’t even requested an interview with Bieniemy, even as several others have already met with him once—virtually, of course.

Earlier this week, former NFL player Christian Fauria spoke on Boston sports radio station WEEI about Bieniemy now wanting “nothing to do” with the Texans. Then came NFL reporter Ben Allbright with a follow-up comment.

On the one hand, one reporter has a source saying, “I’m hearing that Eric Bieniemy wants nothing to do with that job and would not take that job, wants nothing to do with the nonsense that exists over there.” On the other hand, the other is leaning on a different source insisting the interest at least was there in the past.

Does Bieniemy think the organization is too toxic at this point? Is Fauria’s report simply a way to express disinterest in the face of no interviews? Did Bieniemy ever really want the job? It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.

What is clear at this point is that any marriage between the Texans and Eric Bieniemy at this point seems like wishful thinking. Bieniemy has other suitors and the Texans are also looking elsewhere. Despite what oddsmakers said beforehand, both sides are steering clear of one another, which is likely a good thing for the Chiefs coordinator.