Another coaching cycle has come and gone without Eric Bieniemy getting a head coaching job, but that doesn’t mean the Chiefs offensive coordinator will automatically return to Kansas City. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter), Bieniemy‘s contract is expiring.
While the accomplished offensive coordinator could (and probably will) ink a new contract with the Chiefs, Pelissero warns that he would be a “hot free-agent OC target elsewhere.” You could make an argument that Bieniemy could improve his chances for a HC gig if he succeeds out of Andy Reid’s and Patrick Mahomes‘ shadows. Of course, if Bieniemy struggles without his elite offense, that would surely compromise any lingering chances he has of securing that elusive promotion.
Following a five-year stint as the Chiefs RBs coach, he earned a promotion to OC in 2018. Considering the Chiefs’ success, Bieniemy was a popular name in the coaching circuit in both 2019 and 2020. However, the 52-year-old didn’t generate as much interest during this year’s coaching cycle, as he was connected to only a pair of jobs (Saints, Broncos).
More coaching notes out of the AFC…
- Broncos special teams coordinator Tom McMahon will join the Raiders in the same role, reports Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). The 52-year-old has been a ST coordinator in the NFL since he was hired by the Rams in 2009, and he worked alongside Josh McDaniels during his final season with the organization. McMahon has since served as the ST coordinator for the Chiefs, Colts, and Broncos.
- The Broncos natural replacement for McMahon, special teams assistant Chris Gould, was let go by the organization, reports Klis (on Twitter). The older brother of kicker Robbie Gould, Chris Gould had spent seven years with the Broncos organization. The 36-year-old had a brief career in the AFL before transitioning to coaching.
- More Broncos coaching notes: Broncos DL coach Bill Kollar is moving to a consultant-type role (via Klis on Twitter), while WR coach Zach Azzanni and offensive assistant Justin Rascati are sticking around (via Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post on Twitter). Azzanni actually had a second interview with the Falcons today, but Nathaniel Hackett “stepped up” to retain his WR coach (via Klis on Twitter).
- The Jaguars are hiring Mike McCoy as their QB coach, reports Pelissero (via Twitter). The former Chargers head coach was the Broncos OC in 2017 and Cardinals OC in 2018, but he’s been out of the NFL since that time.
- The Bills announced that they have hired Aaron Kromer as their new offensive line coach. This is Kromer’s second stint as the Bills OL coach, having served in the role in 2015 and 2016. The veteran coach was with the Rams between 2017 and 2020, but he wasn’t retained for 2021. Previously, Kromer was the Saints’ interim head coach in 2012 and the Bears offensive coordinator from 2013 to 2014.
- Zach Orr is joining the Ravens as their new linebackers coach, tweets Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Orr played for Baltimore for three years, including a 2016 campaign where he earned a second-team All-Pro nod. He also got his first coaching gig with the Ravens. After serving as a defensive analyst from 2017 to 2020, Orr joined the Jaguars to be their outside linebackers coach in 2021.
Chris is younger than Robbie
It’s cool to see Zach Orr moving up in Baltimore. He was a solid player in the league, and a good special teamed if I remember correctly. It’ll be interesting to see if he ends up a name to watch at DC in a few years.
Zach Azzani seems to be a coach that Denver really likes. I’d also be interested to see where he ends up in a few years’ time.
Bieniemy should just change his last name to Rooney.
Kinda tired of seeing Bieniemy’s name in every coach opening
Yeah, but what’s the story? By all accounts, he’s been the mastermind behind the Chiefs’ offense and yet, he’s continually bypassed. Hard to remember a more talked about assistant who still hasn’t been offered a head coaching spot after three years
I wouldn’t say “mastermind” as long as Reid’s still running the show. Others have left before Bienemy and the offense still rolled. That said, I do agree that it’s curious that he’s been passed over by nearly everyone in the last two years-does Bienemy want the job? Is he comfortable being in KC instead? Or are teams scared by a perceived lack of credentials? Or maybe they don’t like his personality? It’s all just speculation at this point.
He probably does not interview well. Or his vision of a team does not impress the GM’s.
Maybe, and those things could be true, but it is still speculation at this point, which is noticeable for a league that loves leaks as much as the NFL does.
@tiredolddude- His past is probably catching up to him. He has quite the history of legal trouble.
When you have the option of choosing between two coaching equals but one of them has a sordid past pretty much every GM will choose the candidate that won’t create a potential for controversy.
Broncos special teams coordinator Tom McMahon is nothing special. The Broncos ST group gave up a lot of return yards and did nothing in terms of blocks or run backs. They also fumbled a couple of returns – which is always a big game changer.
I’ve seen rumors that there is something in his background check that keeps tripping him up.
The media should investigate and clarify this.
If it’s not true, they should offer facts to the public and clear the air.
If it is true, then we can stop with the “why doesn’t Eric Bienemy get a job?” talk every year.
Bienemy had several run ins with the law when he was younger.
He has a long rap sheet from 90s to early 2000s. DDUI, assault is some. Bad desicions from past could be still haunting him.
His past legal troubles have been well documented in the media, in my opinion. He has a history and it’s all there on his wikipedia page.
Bieniemy is never getting a HC gig.
Why not? He’s a man of color.. They should just hire him despite his past issues. It’s only fair..