ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will meet with Andy Reid soon about whether Bieniemy will return to Kansas City for 2022. In the same report, Schefter said Bieniemy’s future with the Chiefs is “uncertain.” With former quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka moving on to the New York Giants as their offensive coordinator, the Chiefs may need to begin their search for their next top offensive assistant.
There is always the likelihood that Reid will promote an assistant coach from within, as he usually does. Former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy was previously an offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, so there is a chance Nagy could return for a second stint.
However, there is one big name currently outside of the organization who could come in and make a big impact. That name would be Charlie Weis, and he would make this Chiefs offense even better than what it already is.
The Chiefs should consider bringing back Charlie Weis to Kansas City and hiring him as an offensive coordinator again. But this time, with a way better offense.
Many Chiefs fans in the Kansas City area remember Weis for being the Chiefs offensive coordinator in 2010. Shortly afterward, he returned to the area as the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks. I know many will be quick to mention that Weis went 6-22 and was fired four games into his third season in Lawrence. He was also fired at Notre Dame in 2009. But that was when Weis was a head coach in the college ranks.
Forget about his college resume, especially as a head coach. When it comes to the NFL and more specifically being an offensive coordinator, Weis is one of the best offensive coordinators in league history. Just look at his time in Kansas City in 2010.
He made Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe Pro Bowlers in 2010. Cassel and Bowe never saw a Pro Bowl ever again after Weis’ only season with the Chiefs, which was his most recent NFL gig. Weis is best known for winning three Super Bowls while serving as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots and is highly credited for Tom Brady’s growth early in his career. Weis also won a Super Bowl with the Giants when he was the running backs coach in the early ’90s.
As mentioned before, Reid is known for promoting from within, and Nagy is available at the moment. But with Kafka gone and Bieniemy still unsure of his future, none of the other Chiefs’ offensive assistants currently stand out to be an offensive coordinator. The Chiefs did finish in the top five in total offense, total passing, and points scored this past season. However, the Chiefs had some issues in 2021 that Weis could come in and fix.
The Chiefs finished the 2021 season with 25 giveaways. That is the most turnovers the team has committed since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback of the Chiefs by a wide margin. Although Mahomes had a lot of overthrown and underthrown passes, many of them were also dropped. More importantly, as we saw in the AFC Championship game and many times in the past, the Chiefs have issues playing good football consistently for four quarters.
One important part about adding Weis would be how Reid would handle play-calling duties. In Reid’s 23 years as a head coach, he has primarily handled play-calling duties while occasionally handing the responsibility to an offensive coordinator, as we have seen in the past with former offensive coordinators in Doug Pederson in 2015 and Nagy in 2017.
But with someone of Weis’ experience and knowledge, Reid should feel comfortable with Weis handling those responsibilities. Even if Reid hires Weis and keeps play-calling duties, Weis can still make a big impact in Kansas City and help the offense improve.
Think about it. Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill have formed the best quarterback-tight end-wide receiver trio the past four years. What if they had Weis as their offensive coordinator? Those three would do even better, and that should excite Chiefs fans. The idea of Weis coaching that offensive trio is a scary thought for opposing defenses.
In February of 2018, four months after being fired by the Kansas Jayhawks, Weis told the South Bend Tribune that it is “highly doubtful” he coaches again. However, Weis told ESPN in December of 2018 that he is interested in returning to the NFL as an offensive coordinator.
Weis currently is an analyst for Sirius XM NFL Radio. He co-hosts “Airing It Out” in the mornings with Bob Papa. Although Weis and Reid have never coached together in the past, Weis has called Reid one of his best friends on-air multiple times. If Weis still has the itch to return to coaching, Kansas City would be a perfect destination. It would bode well for him, Reid, and the Chiefs offense.