Eric Bieniemy’s tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs is nearing a detailed. After 5 years of success and two Super Bowl rings, the league’s finest offensive coordinator isn’t any nearer to getting the pinnacle teaching job he covets. Now Bieniemy is on the verge of leaving KC to tackle the identical function with the Washington Commanders.
On the floor this is likely one of the most weird profession modifications you possibly can think about. Bieniemy leaves the Super Bowl champions to hitch a hapless offense that ranked twenty first within the NFL in passing and with no quarterback plan exterior of growing Sam Howell. To compound points it’s transferring on from the most secure, most secure job in soccer to hitch Ron Rivera, whose future might be on rocky floor, with Dan Snyder doubtlessly promoting his soccer group within the course of.
So why would Bieniemy make a transfer like this?
No. 1: He’s been informed he must “prove himself” extra
The head teaching hiring course of has been patently unfair to Bieniemy. Nobody within the NFL has a greater resume, however frequently he’s been handed over for lesser-qualified candidates — even these coming from comparable offensive backgrounds.
One potential notion why is that Kansas City has been a reasonably simple place to teach since 2018. The group had the perfect quarterback within the NFL, an offensive mastermind at head coach, and basically all of the items wanted for fulfillment.
Washington has none of these issues. If he’s capable of revitalize the Commanders offense, even simply by lifting them sufficient to get to the playoffs, it will stamp out any doubt that Bieniemy was merely second fiddle to Andy Reid and cement himself as worthy of a head teaching gig.
No. 2: It’s an opportunity for him to run the present
One of the routine fees towards Bieniemy relies off a spurious concept that he’s been driving Reid’s coattails in Kansas City. Reid himself has rejected this concept, and even advocated for Bieniemy getting a shot to teach — but it surely’s fallen on deaf ears.
That stated, Reid remains to be a giant a part of the offensive playcalling in Kansas City, no matter who attracts up the performs themselves. In Washington all the offense could be on him, with Rivera being very arms off relating to offense and placing belief in his coordinators.
Washington’s success, or failure, could be Bieniemy’s and his alone. If you’re assured in your means to work with the roster then all of the credit score is ready for you on the opposite facet.
Perhaps a part of what saved Bieniemy in Kansas City was the likelihood Reid would retire and he could be the coach in ready, however with Andy saying he needs to maintain teaching it shuts that door.
Another factor to that is Bieniemy’s teaching background, which previous to Kansas City centered on the bottom recreation. He adjusted his offensive ideas to tackle a pass-first group, however this is able to give him an opportunity to return to operating the ball, which was his bread-and-butter offensive type earlier than becoming a member of Reid.
No. 3: Washington is a brand new problem
It’s not enjoyable successful in Madden over and over on rookie issue. That’s basically what you’ve acquired in KC. This previous season was the largest problem the group had as they moved away from counting on Tyreek Hill and revamping the offense with JuJu Smith-Schuster as their high receiver except for Travis Kelce, and the end result was extra astouding offensive success.
At some level the method of simply successful due to Mahomes and the Chiefs’ unbelievable offensive expertise has to get previous. Flipping over to the NFC means he gained’t instantly be getting in Reid’s approach and damage the Chiefs, whereas additionally taking up a substantial problem.
No. 4: Rivera is a good coach to work beneath
As a coordinator you’d be laborious pressed to discover a higher head coach to work beneath than Ron Rivera. Routinely often known as a coach who goes to bat for his assistants, there’s no threat Rivera would try to throw Bieniemy beneath the bus if issues go unsuitable like different coaches generally tend to do.
Rivera can also be resolute in giving his coordinator’s reward for his or her success, and is mostly considered one of many nicest coaches within the league. It’s an amazing work surroundings to be in. In addition, Rivera has a historical past of getting his coordinators into head teaching positions due to the autonomy he lets them have. Sean McDermott, Rob Chudzinski and Steve Wilks all acquired jobs after working with Rivera.
No. 5: It’s an opportunity to develop his personal quarterback
Patrick Mahomes had already started his ascent when Bieniemy joined the Chiefs, and since that time it’s simply been about supporting the perfect quarterback within the NFL. Things are very completely different with the Commanders.
Trying to teach up Sam Howell, a quarterback who’s extraordinarily unproven however proven flashes, could be an unbelievable addition to Bieniemy’s resume — in addition to an opportunity to offer Washington one thing the group hasn’t had since Kirk Cousins: A possible franchise QB.
Any success on the place could be Bieniemy’s alone, and make him a king in Washington.