Philadelphia Eagles want to schedule interview with Eric Bieniemy
By Matt Conner
The latest team to showcase an interest in Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator for their head coach opening is the only team in the open market that has yet to do so. Per NFL reporter Mike Garafolo, the Philadelphia Eagles have requested permission to speak with Bieniemy regarding the opening to lead their team.
Bieniemy and fellow Chiefs assistant coach Mike Kafka (quarterbacks) were considered the co-favorites for the Eagles opening the moment that Doug Pederson was fired last Monday. However, early interviews and further reports began to shift interest on the part of the Eagles toward others, including internal candidate Duce Staley and Josh McDaniels.
The Eagles became the seventh team with a head coach opening this offseason after firing Pederson, and all six other teams have already interviewed the Chiefs O.C. or have indicated an interest in doing so. Two of those teams have already found a different head coach, however, as the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets went with former college coach Urban Meyer and former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, respectively. In addition, the Atlanta Falcons have reportedly found their man in Arthur Smith.
Bieniemy has been a hot name in potential head coaching circles for each of the last three years. While it was understandable that Bieniemy was passed over his first offseason back in 2019 after being a coordinator, questions began to arise a year ago when several teams spoke with Bieniemy but decided to go with other candidates. This year, a landing spot for Bieniemy felt like a foregone conclusion, but thus far, momentum seems to be leaning elsewhere.
Perhaps the Eagles who were the last to get into the game this winter in terms of musical chairs for potential head coaches will be the landing spot.