Former NFL GM believes Eric Bieniemy should be a head coach in 2024
Nobody in NFL history has been interviewed for a head-coaching position more than Eric Bieniemy.
And yet, the 53-year-old assistant coach has gotten zero job offers from the 16 interviews he’s had with 15 different teams. However, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum believes that will change in 2024 if Bieniemy turns around the woeful Washington Commanders offense.
“I love people that bet on themselves and take the more challenging path,’’ Tannenbaum told The 33rd Team. “In Kansas City, he had to fight the stigma of how much of it was coach Reid and how much of it was him. I can’t say enough about how much his decision to leave Kansas City speaks to his confidence and belief in himself. If Washington makes any kind of improvement, I think he’ll be in demand.’’
Bieniemy spent the last five seasons as an offensive coordinator in Kansas City. The Chiefs had the No. 1-ranked offense in three of those years, including last season, and they never finished below sixth in total offense or scoring offense, which is why it’s hard to believe he’s never landed a head-coaching gig as many times as he’s interviewed.
Many have said coaching under head coach Andy Reid and working with an MVP quarterback like Patrick Mahomes have overshadowed Bieniemy’s success, which is presumably why he left Kansas City for the offensive coordinator position in Washington, which ranked 20th in total offense and 24th in scoring offense.
If Bieniemy can somehow whip a Sam Howell/Jacoby Brissett-led offense into shape, it could not only be his crowning achievement as an OC, but it could finally be what gets him over the hump and lands him a head-coaching job.
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