Saints request interview with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy for HC opening

As the Saints continue to expand their head-coaching search, a familiar name has come up. The team wants to speak with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.

This is old hat by now for Bieniemy, who has been on the interview circuit for a while. The four-year Kansas City OC’s inability to land a top coaching job has become a lightning rod of sorts in recent coaching carousels. A Saints interview could take place Saturday, per Fowler. Bieniemy, 52, is a New Orleans native, but he attended high school in California.

Not as much interest came Bieniemy’s way during this cycle. Prior to this Saints request, only the Broncos were connected to the AFC West staffer. Bieniemy was not a finalist for the Denver job. Despite being the Chiefs OC throughout Patrick Mahomes‘ tenure as a starter, the former NFL running back has seen several non-play-calling OCs — including Nathaniel Hackett and Kevin O’Connell in this cycle — bypass him en route to HC opportunities.

The Saints have interviewed DC Dennis Allen and former staffer Aaron Glenn. Familiarity may be critical in New Orleans’ first head-coaching search in 16 years, but outside candidates Bieniemy, Byron Leftwich, Doug Pederson and Brian Flores are also on the radar. Both Pederson and Flores have also interviewed, the latter doing so just before his class-action lawsuit against the NFL surfaced.