Eric Bieniemy may leave Chiefs to become offensive coordinator elsewhere, per report

Another NFL coaching hiring cycle passed and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is still not a head coach. But the longtime Andy Reid understudy may not be so quick to return to the Chiefs.

According to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Bieniemy's contract with Kansas City is expiring this offseason and he may consider becoming a "hot free-agent OC."

Bieniemy, 52, has been the Chiefs' offensive coordinator since 2018 when he inherited the job from Matt Nagy. In his four seasons in the role, Kansas City has finished no worse than sixth in points scored or yards gained. 

Despite that success, Bieniemy hasn't been hired as a head coach, although he's been interviewed by several teams. Most recently, the New Orleans Saints interviewed Bieniemy for their head coaching vacancy before promoting defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for the job Monday.

In a lawsuit alleging the NFL racially discriminates against Black coaching candidates, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores cited Bieniemy's inability to get a head coaching job as a prime example. The Flores lawsuit estimates that Bieniemy has been interviewed 20 times for a head coaching role, but has yet to receive an opportunity.