Where do I begin this article as the NFL season is concluded? We’ve had the Super Bowl, and a champion was crowned. Teams are preparing for the upcoming draft as boards will be filled with well over 200 players by round. For one man, former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is available and wasn’t interviewed for any head coaching openings. Allow me to be straightforward and keep it real with you the readers.
For starters, Eric Bieniemy is a well-respected offensive coordinator under the guidance of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Winning two Super Bowl rings holding the title of “offensive coordinator,” but Reid called the plays. When Chiefs players and fellow coaches called Eric a guy who could be a head coach, and franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes vouches for Eric, the admiration was genuine. Upon leaving a well-oiled machine, he took the Washington Commanders job as his first time being in charge. Now, all the football universe questioned this move in part of: “it’s a bad move due to the toxicity around the stench of Dan Snyder.” After being passed over and not getting a head coaching job, something didn’t set well with me as a black man. It felt as if the Commanders 2023 season hinged on Eric; along with whoever was left to be thrown into the fire pits.
With the hiring of new Head Coach Dan Quinn and former head coach Kliff Kingsbury in the building, Eric finds himself out of a job. I want to oppose this question to Commanders ownership; which includes Josh Harris and Magic Johnson: “Was Eric considered for the head coaching vacancy?” I’m being straightforward because something doesn’t add up and the khaotik optics are very sensitive. You see, these owners and GMs drool over the young, offensive gurus. I call them the “expensive sports car” you can’t afford to maintain. When I say this, NFL fans are ready to stone me for it. Give me the steady and reliable Toyota Camry to get me from A thru Z and then some. Those are the coaches who teams pass over due to the portfolio not being updated.
When Eric was being interviewed back in 2021-22, we heard his interviews didn’t fare too well. What area did he fail was the biggest question I believe should be known. But with him being a black coach and not “calling plays'' while in Kansas City, teams were turned away from giving him head coaching responsibilities. It became a tipping point in saying: “if not now, when?”
I have a feeling if some teams under perform in 2024, Eric should at least be a hot candidate for the following teams:
Kansas City Chiefs:
If Andy Reid decides to retire after the 2024 season, it makes perfect sense to head back to Chiefs Kingdom and reunite with Patrick Mahomes and keep this dynasty spearing. Travis Kelce won’t play much longer with Taylor Swift in his ears. An organization who’ll give him the players he needs to keep the train rolling without missing a beat. With Mahomes still an elite quarterback, he’s the heir apparent to Andy Reid if hand-picked to take the throne.
Buffalo Bills:
A team who’s ever so close to knocking off Kansas City in the postseason, Eric would have one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Buffalo has the team, but it folds in the playoffs and can’t recover. With the uncertainty of Sean McDermott’s future beyond 2024, Josh Allen needs a strong offensive minded coach to get him to the Super Bowl. It would be the safe pick to gain traction.
Dallas Cowboys:
Oh, for the grins and giggles, this would be the wild card in head coaching vacancies in 2025. Jerry Jones would have to put his pride aside and let Mike McCarthy walk to secure an interview with Eric. Now, the biggest question is McCarthy’s security in 2024? Hiring Eric would be monumental in the first black head coach in franchise history. Dallas is “Hollywood Texas” and having to deal with Jerry’s daily cryptic pressers would wear thin. But, if this were to happen; the pressure of winning gets tougher and more nauseating for Cowboys fans.
New York Jets:
This would be “Jason Takes Manhattan” for Eric! An aging quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who knows more about ayahuasca and fools the media with his outlandish takes on medicine. A franchise who’s in win now mode and a talented roster. GM Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh have one year to get it right. One or both will be gone after 2024 and where the organization goes from there is going to raise their options. Eric would interview and it would create headlines to see how he and Aaron would mesh in offseason workouts. To keep the team somewhat relevant and competitive, this would be another horror movie with sequel central. Tabloids and dealing with the New York media is a migraine headache no head coach is built to handle.
Chicago Bears:
Misery loves company and the Bears are an overwritten prequel with no clear ending. Do they want an offensive coach or defensive coach? Who’s the quarterback moving forward? Leave Chicago for Arlington Heights, Illinois to build a state of the art stadium? Oh, the many questions Bears fans have which are yet to be answered. If any coach interviews, you’re asking to be fired after three seasons. No head coach has replicated success since Lovie Smith. It’s been a turnstile of coaches, bad drafting, and no real football minds to make crucial decisions. Would any coach be interested in getting this team out of football hell?
Arizona Cardinals:
Do we truly believe Johnathon Gannon is a head coach? Does this team still have “fire in their guts?” Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray is still under contract and an organization who too has been in hell since Bruce Arians left a few years ago. This team has yet to build a contender around Kyler, but his commitment to studying film is still cause for concern. Bringing a coach who expects perfection would tell Kyler to take football more seriously. Not much talent to work with and a complete rebuild would take two years. In a perfect world, Arizona needs a complete makeover internally and externally from bad decision making. Not the most appealing coaching job, but hey; anything is possible right?
In closing, Eric Bieniemy will have options to iron out in 2025. If all align up, those teams should have openings. Hopefully, he won’t be overlooked, or teams bring up bias questions to keep him from getting a head coaching job. As a black man and football consumer, I hope EB gets the opportunity as his white counterparts and be a successful coach in building a title contender. To whom much is given, much is required. Heavy is the head who wears the crown.
Stai tuned.
