One year ago, Eric Bieniemy faced difficulties in securing a head coaching position in the NFL. The media immediately pointed fingers at racism, asserting that his race was the sole reason for his inability to land a head coaching job.
Many of us, including myself, presented factual evidence to counter this claim. Bieniemy’s troubled past and the dissatisfaction expressed by many of his players were undeniable. While he held the title of offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, it was widely known that he did not actually call the plays. Furthermore, he had the privilege of coaching under the legendary Andy Reid, with the exceptional Patrick Mahomes leading his offense.
To suggest that the color of his skin was the only obstacle preventing him from securing a head coaching job was an absurd claim then, and it appears even more ludicrous now.
Bieniemy decided to take a lateral move and become the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders. The purpose behind this move was simple: by demonstrating his ability to succeed without Reid and Mahomes, he hoped to alter the perception of teams towards him.
Unfortunately, this plan backfired tremendously. The Commanders ranked among the bottom teams in terms of yards per play in the NFL this season. Quarterback Sam Howell endured the highest number of sacks in the league. The team’s performance in terms of total yards and total points even regressed from the previous season, prior to Bieniemy’s arrival.
Is all of this solely Eric Bieniemy’s fault? Certainly not. However, it is evident that his coaching did not lead to the expected improvement in the team’s offense.
Moreover, Washington players did not respond positively to Bieniemy’s coaching. In fact, head coach Ron Rivera publicly acknowledged that several offensive players had complained about Bieniemy.
Meanwhile, if we look at the Kansas City Chiefs, the team that Bieniemy left, they managed to reach the Super Bowl without him. This strongly suggests that the driving forces behind the team’s success are Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, as many sensible analysts had already recognized prior to this season.
Following the season, the Commanders decided to part ways with Ron Rivera, leaving Bieniemy uncertain about his future. Ultimately, the team hired Dan Quinn as the new head coach, who then brought on Kliff Kingsbury to lead the Commanders offense. Shortly after, Quinn announced that Bieniemy would not be returning to the team.
However, it is important to note that this decision does not necessarily reflect poorly on Bieniemy. New head coaches often prefer to assemble their own coaching staffs, and Quinn opted for Kingsbury as his offensive coordinator.
Nevertheless, some individuals still attempted to portray this move as racially motivated.
While Robert Griffin III did not explicitly claim racism, he remained steadfast in his belief that Bieniemy deserved a head coaching position.
An ESPN panelist on the show “Around the Horn” subtly hinted at racism without explicitly stating it. This same panelist, named David Dennis, Jr., had previously accused the Houston Texans of racism.
Stephen A. Smith insinuated that Kliff Kingsbury’s appointment as the Washington head coach was a result of white privilege, although he did not mention Bieniemy by name.
Predictably, “Deadspin” took an extreme stance, as is characteristic of their approach. Carron J. Phillips, who had previously falsely accused a young boy of blackface, wasted no time in writing an article with the sub-headline, “Don’t tell me the NFL is making great strides with hiring Black coaches if one of the game’s best offensive minds is unemployed.”
Credit must be given to Phillips for his unwavering commitment to his initial position. He firmly believes that Bieniemy is a victim of racism, despite the overwhelming evidence that proves otherwise.
Interestingly, the aforementioned individuals who previously cried racism have slightly altered their stances. They now understand what many of us knew all along: Eric Bieniemy is not suitable for an NFL head coaching position.
While RGIII may still argue that Bieniemy deserves the role, he has moderated his approach. Stephen A. Smith has shifted his focus to discussing Kliff Kingsbury’s alleged white privilege, diverting attention away from Bieniemy. David (or is it Dennis?) insinuated that race may play a role but refrained from explicitly stating it, a significant departure from his previous outspoken stance.
All of them should take this opportunity to apologize. After all, several black men were hired for head coaching positions in the NFL this season.
The Atlanta Falcons appointed Raheem Morris, the New England Patriots promoted Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick, and the Las Vegas Raiders removed the interim tag and named Antonio Pierce as their permanent head coach.
While the candidates’ race should not be a determining factor, NFL teams have demonstrated that they prioritize winning football games above all else.
The color of a candidate’s skin is irrelevant, regardless of what some people may believe.
Eric Bieniemy’s absence from the NFL head coaching ranks has nothing to do with his race.
Perhaps, it is simply because he lacks the necessary coaching abilities.