Eric Bieniemy should currently be in Las Vegas. However, due to a lack of confidence, impatience, or perhaps misguided advice, the premier offensive coordinator in football finds himself waiting to see if he will retain his position. Sometimes, staying in one place is the best decision.
According to a report from ProFootballTalk, the Commanders are currently addressing Bieniemy’s situation as they welcome Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator under the leadership of Dan Quinn. The matter is expected to be resolved on Monday evening.
Exactly one year ago, Bieniemy was introduced as the Washington Commanders’ new offensive coordinator. Now, twelve months later, he watches his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, compete in their fourth Super Bowl in five years, without him.
Looking back at the comments made during his introductory press conference, it becomes evident that these statements serve as a roadmap to the present situation. Former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera expressed hope that this change would benefit Bieniemy and emphasized the importance of focusing on winning football games.
Rivera has since been fired, the Commanders have a new coaching staff, and Bieniemy’s future with the team remains uncertain.
Throughout his career, Bieniemy has faced inequality in the NFL coaching hiring process. Some have criticized his past mistakes while ignoring similar faults in white candidates. Others have attributed the success of the Chiefs’ offense solely to head coach Andy Reid, despite the team’s decline in the season Bieniemy was absent. There were also those who believed that a lateral move would lead to progress.
An article from FOX 5 Washington DC last February stated that this move would provide Bieniemy with an opportunity to shine outside the shadow of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. It also highlighted the fact that he had interviewed for numerous head coaching positions in the past.
After facing rejection from NFL owners nearly 20 times, it becomes evident that Bieniemy has endured a level of dismissal that a white coach with his qualifications would likely not face. However, despite these setbacks, he and others convinced themselves that working in Washington would eventually lead to the head coaching position he has been denied for years.
During his press conference, Bieniemy emphasized his accountability to his current team and focused on the task at hand. Unfortunately, this opportunity came with its own set of challenges.
Washington is a franchise plagued by dysfunction, scandal, and mismanagement. Despite attempts to showcase diversity through individuals like Jason Wright and Magic Johnson, it was misguided to believe that Bieniemy could thrive in such an environment and use it as a stepping stone to a head coaching position elsewhere.
From the start, the only ones who stood to benefit from Bieniemy taking the job in Washington were the people in Washington itself. Once there, players complained about his high standards, demonstrating a resistance to working with a winner.
Now, both Rivera and Bieniemy find themselves at home. One was unable to succeed as a head coach, while the other’s future remains uncertain, unable to prove his capabilities in the role.
Throughout the years, Mahomes and Reid have been staunch advocates for Bieniemy during his numerous interviews. However, in hindsight, it appears that they understood Kansas City was always the best place for him.
If Bieniemy is wise, he will consider reaching out to his agent and exploring the possibility of returning to his previous position in Kansas City, perhaps with a similar arrangement in his contract. Just as the Prodigal Son found success by returning home, Bieniemy may find that the same holds true for him.