FEBRUARY 16: Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports (via Twitter) that today’s talks went well, and that Bieniemy will remain in Washington Friday to continue discussing the OC position. This latest update represents another sign pointing towards a Commanders deal being a distinct possibility in the very near future.
FEBRUARY 15: Kansas City’s offensive coordinator will interview with Washington’s OC job Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Bieniemy remains the Commanders’ top candidate for the gig, which would come with play-calling responsibilities. Bieniemy’s Chiefs contract expired after Super Bowl LVII.
FEBRUARY 13: Eric Bieniemy is now a two-time Super Bowl champion, after the Chiefs’ offense sparked a second-half comeback victory Sunday night. The Kansas City offensive coordinator was already on the radar of several other teams before the title game, and its result has not changed his situation. 
Bieniemy remains the top target for the Commanders, who are setting up an interview with him for this week, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). Washington was recently named as a suitor for the 53-year-old, along with Baltimore; Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler tweets that the Ravens are also expected to meet with Bieniemy regarding their vacancy.
The Commanders have undertaken a wide-ranging search in their replacement for Scott Turner. An interview with Bieniemy was only possible after the Super Bowl, of course, but they could have competition for his services. Bieniemy’s agent explained to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk over the weekend that he has an “outside shot” at the Colts’ head coaching position, one of two in the NFL which has yet to filled. Bieniemy interviewed once for that role but has plenty of competition amongst his fellow finalists.
In addition to the Indianapolis HC gig and the Washington and Baltimore OC postings, Bieniemy could also be a contender to become Arizona’s next offensive coordinator, per his agent, depending on who is ultimately hired as the Cardinals’ new head coach. To date, the 10-year Chiefs staffer has not taken any OC interviews, but that could change very quickly given his position atop the list of the Commanders’ preferred candidates.
The Chiefs cannot block Bieniemy from interviewing for a job with play-calling responsibilities. With Andy Reid calling plays in Kansas City, it would be considered a step up for Bieniemy to become an offensive coordinator elsewhere. Reid would welcome his longtime lieutenant taking the reins elsewhere.
“Eric Bieniemy has been tremendous for us and I think tremendous for the National Football League,” Reid said, via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. “I’m hoping he has an opportunity to go somewhere and do his thing where he can run the show and be Eric Bieniemy.”
Should Washington not be able to land Bieniemy, another veteran coach appears to be in place as Plan B. The Commanders are keeping an eye on Pat Shurmur, who interviewed with the team not long after their season ended. JP Finlay of NBC Sports notes that no other team has met with the former Giants and Browns head coach during the 2023 cycle, and that none are expected to in the coming days. Fowler concurs that Shurmur, 57, is likely the Commanders’ fallback option.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s John Keim reports (via Twitter) that Washington is lining up an interview with former Ravens OC Greg Roman. The latter spent the past four years at the helm of the Ravens’ offense, enjoying considerable success in the running game but coming up noticeably short regarding the team’s passing attack. The 50-year-old has previously served as the offensive coordinator of the 49ers and Bills.
Here is the updated breakdown of where things stand on the Washington OC front:
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Declined interview request
- Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested; team remains interested; interview being arranged
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
- Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Declined interview request
- Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Interview requested
- Anthony Lynn, assistant head coach/running backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/1
- Greg Roman, former offensive coordinator (Ravens): interview being arranged
- Pat Shurmur, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed; fallback option?
- Eric Studesville, running backs coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Ken Zampese, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/18
It would be pure STUPIDITY FOR Bieniemy to leave the Chiefs and Mahomes to take the same position with the Redskins I mean commanders for what? I mean who is their QB? That franchise is a dumpster fire
If he ever wants to be a HC some day, he may need experience as a play calling OC. He’s interviewed a ton for HC positions over the past few years and hasn’t gotten one yet.
He’s Called plenty of plays. He just doesn’t call all of them. It’s funny how other Andy Reid Oc’s got HC jobs after leaving him
Its not just funny. We know what one of the other reaaons is, shoot, some of them weren’t even OC’s.
Not saying he won’t be successful but Matt Nagy didn’t fare too well when he left Reid
Dudes only 53 he can for sure take over when Andy retires
Who’s first in line when Reid retires?
He’ll never get any credit for being the “OC” on a team where the head coach is the actual OC. Yeah if he just wants to collect rings and never challenge himself, then he can stay put and maintain the status quo until AR retires. I betting quite a few people out there can be a fake OC on the chiefs and win a title when you have one of the best QBs to play the game at the helm. It’s not going to prove much to teams thinking about hiring him as a HC.
Or he can take a true OC job where he has 100% control of the offense and play calling abilities. It’s his best chance if he is ever going to get a HC gig. He’s gotta prove he can OC by himself and do it without the best QB currently in the game on his team.
If Bieniemy ever wants to be a coach in this league his best route is staying with the chiefs and not going to a team where the coach is in the hot seat and you have no one at QB with the ownership situation on the toilet
But that’s also an environment where if successful, his coaching reputation would get a huge boost and a HC job would be much more likely to come his way.
I’d roll the dice on Bieniemy before hiring Pat Shurmur any day. His play calling in Denver was pedestrian and predictable as hell. Borderline unwatchable.
The Commanders will be looking for a new staff once a new owner comes in. Why would anyone tie their future to Ron Rivera remaining in place even if the team doesn’t somehow sell? He is done this year one way or another.
Right? Why leave for a seat that might be hot before you even sit in it.
Taking the job is no risk for him. He asks for 2.5 for 3 years guaranteed. If a new owner cuts him loose in a month he pockets 7.5 mil and gets another gig. Maybe the new owner promotes him to HC. He’s not going to accept a non-garanteed contract at this point in his career.
It has been pointed out locally that the Commanders are not handing out long term contracts or extensions, due to the team ownership being in flux. Also, the current coaching staff does not have multiple years left on their contracts.
The Commanders offensive coordinator:
1) A one year contract that is written as a two year to save face.
2) Will not have a say in offensive personnel.
3) Handed a QB that started one week 17 meaningless game
4) Do not know who the owner of the team will be week 1 of the season.
Eric B will negotiate terms of contract prior to accepting position. Length of contract, say in personal decisions, yearly salary is all on the table when you’re the best candidate in the NFL. Commanders know in order to land someone like him they have to give him nearly everything he asks for. If they were not going to be flexible they would not have waited.
>Commanders know in order to land someone like him they have to give him nearly everything he asks for
For someone serially passed over?
They could give him league minimum
He was passed off for HC not for OC from a struggling team. How different is that? From what I’m hearing he let his contact expire because he wants a change. He agreed to an interview because he’s interested and I’ll bet will be in Washington next week. He’s the one Reviea was waiting for.
Everybody is assuming that the Chiefs want him back for next year. He may not have a choice other than to accept an OC job at some putrid franchise going nowhere. During the last hiring cycle, there were plenty of leaks/hints coming out of KC that he had worn out his welcome and that they were hoping he’d land someplace else.
link to arrowheadpride.com
I’m with everybody else, he’d be insane to leave the Chiefs. Even if he were a lifelong OC, would be better than getting fired from some dumpster fire team with no QB. The Chiefs will be relevant for another decade+ with Mahomes.
Yeah, his contract is up. I’d be amazed if he comes back next year
So you’re the OC of the Super Bowl winning team but if you play your cards right you might get hired away to do the same exact job for the crappy Washington franchise that is in an annual fight for 3rd place in their division?
When your employer doesn’t want you back yeah
Rivera might as well take a chance on him, as he is a dead man walking in terms of being the head coach beyond this year.
If I’m the Commanders I’d hire Bienemy as OC and play caller with a wink wink deal that if Commanders suck by Halloween they dump Riverboat Ron and make Bienemy the interim head coach