Getty Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Ex-Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s introductory press conference with the Washington Commanders took place on Thursday, February 23.
It was not just the first time Washington’s community got to hear from their new assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, but it was also the first time Chiefs Kingdom got to hear from Bieniemy since he departed from the Kansas City Chiefs‘ coaching staff.
Bieniemy opened his press conference by thanking the Chiefs, who he had been with for the past 10 years.
“First off, let me say this — it was an amazing 10 years having an opportunity to work for the Chiefs organization,” Bieniemy said. “It goes without saying, I’d like to thank Clark Hunt and the whole entire Hunt family. I’d like to like Mark Donovan, our team president with the Kansas City Chiefs. Brett Veach and his staff, and of course, Coach Andy Reid.
“It’s been an amazing journey getting to this point and having the success that we’ve had over the years. But now it’s time for a new challenge and looking at these guys up front, Eric Bieniemy is fired up. He’s fired up and you guys will figure that out real soon.”
LIVE: Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s introductory press conference
Bieniemy on Leaving Chiefs: Complacency a Factor
EB was asked during his presser about the decision to leave Kansas City to join Washington’s coaching staff. His answer: complacency.
“I don’t like being comfortable. I’m about accepting challenges moving forward,” he said.
As for the rumors that Bieniemy joined the Commanders’ coaching staff because that would give him his best chance to get an NFL head coaching job as opposed to staying in Kansas City, EB deflected all questions about his head coaching aspirations.
“Right now I’m the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders. Being a head coach, if that’s to happen, that’ll take care of itself,” he said.
Why Eric Bieniemy Took Commanders Job
Eric Bieniemy explained that leaving the Chiefs to join the Commanders’ coaching staff had to do with accepting a new challenge. But leaving Kansas City for Washington will also help his chances of getting a head coaching job in the NFL.
Even though Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator in Kansas City, there was a general belief for some time that head coach Andy Reid was the actual offensive play-caller, even though Reid refuted that narrative in January.
Despite that, Bieniemy coaching under a Hall of Fame head coach and having quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading his offense paints a picture that depicts Bieniemy as having minimal impact on the success of the Chiefs over the last five seasons.
That’s why Bieniemy is leaving to join the Commanders. As the offensive coordinator in Washington, he will have full control of the offense because head coach Ron Rivera is a defensive-minded head coach. That in turn will give full credit to Bieniemy if Washington’s offense is successful moving forward.
With that being said — Bieniemy shouldn’t have to jump ship from Kansas City’s coaching staff to have a better chance of getting an NFL head coaching job.
Coaches with less success in the NFL (Urban Meyer, Nathaniel Hackett, Kliff Kingsbury, to name a few) didn’t have to prove themselves as much as Bieniemy has in order to work their way up the NFL coaching ladder. They also proved incapable of having success as an NFL head coach.
Yet, Bieniemy, a two-time Super Bowl champion, has to make a near-lateral move just to have a chance of getting a head coaching job in the NFL in the future.
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Eric Bieniemy Breaks Silence on Leaving Chiefs for Commanders