The Titans have a vacancy at offensive coordinator after firing Todd Downing, and two candidates for the post have emerged. As Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports, Tennessee has requested permission to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and senior assistant/QBs coach Matt Nagy (Twitter link).
Bieniemy, of course, has been a fixture on the head coaching interview circuit in recent years. He has been unable to land an HC gig as of yet, and while he recently interviewed for the Colts’ head coaching position, it does not appear that the four other clubs who are in need of a new bench boss have him on their shortlist.
Since being promoted from running backs coach to offensive coordinator in 2018 — the year that Patrick Mahomes became the Chiefs’ starting quarterback — Bieniemy’s offense has never finished worse than sixth in either yards per game or points per game. Kansas City finished first in both categories in 2022 en route to the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Many reasons have been floated for the 53-year-old’s inability to land an HC job, including his race — Bieniemy is Black — and unimpressive interviews. From an on-field perspective, it could be that other teams believe head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes have been more critical to KC’s offensive output over the past five years than Bieniemy, especially given Reid’s significant influence in the offense’s design and execution (though former QBs coach/passing game coordinator Mike Kafka earned a promotion in 2022, when he joined Brian Daboll‘s first staff as the Giants’ offensive coordinator).
Perhaps having success outside of the Reid/Mahomes shadow would give Bieniemy a better chance to secure a head coaching post, although a lack of success in a new setting would obviously damages his HC prospects. The Titans, who have an uncertain quarterback situation, who are presently light on skill-position talent outside of running back Derrick Henry, and who are in the midst of a GM search following Jon Robinson‘s surprising ouster, may not give Bieniemy the best chance to pad his resume. Indeed, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports (via Twitter) that Bieniemy remains focused on HC opportunities.
Nagy, meanwhile, was able to parlay his efforts as the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator under Reid into a head coaching job with the Bears in 2018. After a successful first season in Chicago, Nagy’s outfits struggled over his next three years on the sidelines, and he was fired at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign. Nagy has been mentioned as a name to watch in the Jets’ present OC search, and there have also been reports that he could one day succeed Reid as Kansas City’s head coach.
Per Anderson, Nagy has yet to confirm Tennessee’s request.
It would be a good idea to mention that Bieniemy strangled a woman when he was a player, rather than just mentioning quarterback and race.
Nevermind that it must be cause he’s black, thats the only acceptable reason.
Yes , his coaching career should be ruined because of something he did 25 years ago. We all know (sarcasm) all the white coaches hired in front of him have been perfect , and oh what great job they all have done. Nathaniel Hackett, Joe Judge, Arthur Smith, Dan Campbell, and ohh the best one Brandon Staley and countless others.
Gregg Berhalter
Who cares if it was 25 years ago? He strangled a woman! It’s not like he got busted stealing a Snickers bar from 7-11.
Yeah… bringing up his race is ridiculous. Not necessary. Has nothing to do with it. This writer should be fired. Shame on him. I won’t read any more of his postings on this site.
Just pointing out that it has been repeatedly referenced when his inability to land an HC gig is discussed. This is not an opinion piece.
Very interesting that the Titans want to speak to Bieniemy for their O-Coordinator position. He should take the meeting. He’s clearly taken the roll of Maholmes punching bag as far as it’ll go. He’s been universally rejected as a HC candidate, only the people in those meetings know exactly why..but everyone seems to see some glaring flags. So do the hard thing and go be a real O-Coordinator for a franchise whose HC doesn’t already own the job. Titans meet that criteria.
I didn’t see it this way. Great comment, on point!
The #Titans must have the worst front office in the NFL. Why on Gods green earth would Eric leave KC for anything other than a HC gig? Just ignorant.
The article states why he would consider leaving KC for another OC job. So no the Tennessee front office is not ignorant but you clearly are
But their owner is.
The fact that Belichick does all the coaching in NE hasn’t stopped his many scrub assistants from getting multiple jobs.
But, I think the thing that has hurt him the most (besides the above allegation if that’s true) is that the Chiefs keep going deep in the playoffs and teams want coaches sooner.
Conversely, if the Chiefs ever flame out early enough for him to interview in time to get a job with THAT roster, he won’t get any jobs.
The stars don’t always align for everyone.
Thanks for letting us know he’s “black”. A few other burning questions you might be able to help me with…Eye color? Length of fingernails? Has he ever had a root canal?
For the love of God please not Naggy.
With Derrick Henry your offense should be pretty simple and boring so if that’s what you’re shooting for Nagy is your guy. Just sign Trubisky and instant boring.
Being a black man is holding him back from getting a HC job? There are several black head coaches in the NFL. Surely you don’t think the color of his skin has anything to do with it.
Perhaps it’s more that he is a puppet and giving him a head coaching job, or even being the OC in Tennessee would expose him. He’s safe where he is and continuing to collect a check in a comfortable and winning atmosphere is in his best interest for as long as he can.
I should rephrase. If Eric being black is holding him back from being a head coach, that’s horrible. He and all others should NEVER be oppressed due to their skin color.
I’d like to see Eric in TN. It’s what LaFluer did. Lateral move from LA Rams to TN so he can call the plays away from McVay. Eric should certainly do the same.
He just took a job with the Rams..
Lafluer I mean
Matt LaFleur – Packers head coach. He was Rams OC, then Titans OC so he could call plays then took Packers HC job.
I’m not fully aware of how these interviews go, but don’t the Titans stand to gain a lot from getting as much outside perspective on their offense as possible??
Aren’t all these guys gonna come in and explain what they would do with our offense? So I say interview anyone & everyone, I don’t care if they stunk as a HC, they may have some great ideas for our offense.
Except for Naggy. He would probably use Haskins over Henry lol
Jimmy The Greek may have given the biggest knock. If the league was serious, it would start a leadership program to give all coaches the same tools.
Maybe they seen what a disappointment Nagy was and realize it’s Reid.
Nice. After getting interviews on half of the NFL teams for HC, he starts making the rounds looking for OC. What does he have to do to get the job?? Does EB need to choke a chick to be taken seriously??
Am I the only one that thinks Vrabel just wants a clinic on the Chiefs offense?
Neither of them is getting hired. This is just information gathering.