Now that we’re well into December, it’s time for an annual tradition to begin again soon: the Eric Bieniemy rumor mill.
We hate that this has been the reality for Bieniemy for the last few years, but obviously, it’s completely out of our control. If we had it our way, the Kansas City Chiefs would have moved on to a new offensive coordinator out of necessity because Bieniemy would have received his due long ago. Now at this point, we’re just praying he finally gets a chance instead of watching NFL teams continue to pass him over again and again (and again) for head coaching consideration.
Right around this time or later every year, we begin to hear rumblings of head coaches who are about to get fired, could get fired, will get fired, or are already fired. The natural response to those hot seat columns is a wave of coaching prospect columns. At this point, it’s likely hard to know what to make of Bieniemy’s status given that he’s been around this particular block more than once and yet he’s still waiting for his turn.
The Eric Bieniemy rumor mill should be starting any week now for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Every winter, Bieniemy draws considerable interest from teams that are hiring a new head coach. Every year, Bieniemy is also left standing when the music stops instead of finding a new team to call his own. The results seem unfair and it’s amazing that he’s yet to be snatched up. Yet here he stands.
At this point, a team like the New York Jets has checked in on Bieniemy twice and yet they’ve gone with Adam Gase and then Robert Saleh. Ask Jets fans who Saleh is looking at this point. And don’t bother asking for an opinion on Gase unless you want someone to either cry or punch a wall. Beyond the Jets, a dozen other teams have interviewed Bieniemy in the last three offseasons only to leave him waiting for his turn. He’s been rumored as a favorite multiple times including Washington (who jumped on Ron Rivera), Houston (David Culley), and Philadelphia (Nick Sirianni).
Half of the NFL has come and gone and yet they’ll cycle back around again because there are that many new hires every year in the NFL. Will they come for Bieniemy again? It’s likely to happen. While the Chiefs aren’t as shiny of a product as they’ve been in the past, they’re still a model organization with sustained success and Bieniemy has loads of experience next to a Hall of Fame coach. He’s charismatic and smart and his players love to play for him. He’s also loaded with postseason experience.
Until someone finally shakes his hand and offers him a job, we’re going to see the same carousel of interviews every year with Bieniemy. It’s become a tradition at this point, but we’d be very happy for him to not have to celebrate this occasion again in the near future.