Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy on becoming a head coach: 'I've just got to go get it'

Eric Bieniemy has served as Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator since 2018 and has been widely credited by many, including head coach Andy Reid, for Patrick Mahomes becoming a superstar quarterback for one of the NFL's top offensive units. 

While Reid assistants such as Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy earned head-coaching jobs during previous offseasons, Bieniemy has been passed over, including across this past January and February. 

Bieniemy, who is Black, ultimately returned to the Chiefs on a one-year deal before March of this year and admitted on Thursday that "it's tough" to remain an assistant even though his stats and résumé show he likely should've been given a head-coaching opportunity from some club by now. 

Per Adam Teicher of ESPN, Bieniemy was asked on Thursday what he feels he must do to become a head coach at the highest level by this time next year. 

I've just got to go get it,'' Bieniemy responded. "I'm not seeking any comfort. I haven't gotten it for whatever reason. It (doesn't) matter. I'm going to keep knocking on that door and I'm going to keep working my a-s off to make sure that it happens. My job this year is to make sure we take care of business that needs to be taken care of today to help us achieve the goal down the road. And then it's time for me when it's presented to just go and get the job.

"You can always be better. I'm always going to take a look at myself first. I always make sure that I'm checking everything and checking every box . . . Personally I have to make sure that I'm always evolving because if you're not evolving you become like the dinosaurs and you're extinct.''

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported in January that "the periodic and persistent chatter regarding Bieniemy being a 'bad interview' is BS." For whatever reasons, Bieniemy will have to again prove himself to would-be employers seven months down the road unless he decides to leave the NFL for the college ranks.