The Commanders have cast a wide net in their search for a new head coach, but it has been known since shortly after Ron Rivera‘s firing that Eric Bieniemy will have a chance to be promoted to the position. The latter has indeed formally interviewed with Washington. 
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Bieniemy met with the Commanders last week, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports. The interview included owner Josh Harris and newly-hired general manager Adam Peters, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz adds. Both note the detailed nature of the meeting, which doubles as Bieniemy’s first known interview of the 2024 hiring cycle.
The longtime Chiefs OC joined the Commanders this past offseason in a move which included full-time play-calling duties and the added title of assistant head coach. Having stepped out of the shadow of Andy Reid, expectations were mixed for Bieniemy given his newfound control over the unit but also the decided lack of experience on the part of starting quarterback Sam Howell. The 2022 fifth-rounder was placed atop the depth chart throughout the lead-in to the campaign, one in which he flashed potential at times early on.
Toward the end of the campaign, however, Howell was lifted mid-game for Jacoby Brissett on multiple occasions, and he would have been benched if not for an injury on the part of the latter. The Commanders ultimately finished 24th in both total and scoring offense, and improvements across the board will be needed in the coming months to upgrade the unit. That could very well include a new quarterback being selected in April, as Washington holds the No. 2 pick.
The Commanders will have a new organizational structure in Harris’ second year at the helm. The team’s new head coach will answer to Peters. That setup could lend itself to a first-time HC getting the nod, but candidates with a wide range of experience have been interviewed already or received a slip from Washington. Once Peters became the choice for GM, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was named as a candidate to watch for the HC vacancy. The latter is indeed believed to be Washington’s top target.
Bieniemy’s status as an internal option for the posting means his interview does not relate to the Rooney Rule in Washington’s ongoing search. The team is required to speak with two external minority candidates before choosing its Rivera successor. Bieniemy is now, at a minimum, in the mix for consideration as things stand.
I hope he gets the job.
There have been so many bad coaching hires. This guy deserves a shot. Worst case he sucks and you drop him after one year.
Eric is his own worst enemy
Everyone knew Rivera was going to be fired after the season. Why not do it midseason and give Bieniemy a chance to show you what he can do?
The new ownership doesn’t want bienemy as the hc or to take flak for not hiring him as a temp.
Bienemy did a mediocre job with the offense and play-calling (too pass-crazy, allowed opposing defensive ends to pin their ears back all game, made rolling blitzes very effective). Not much leadership aura.
Why would new owners want to promote Bienemy? Probably promised an interview in his original Rivera-era contract.
They should also work on those awful uniforms and stupid team name.
Winning and losing football games can be so random. It feels like these coaching hires and fires are just as random. At least the Patriots identified a guy early on and groomed him in their organization as part of a succession plan. This is often a successful practice in business yet rarely used in football. Why not Bienemy? He knows the organization. The players respect him. He has had years of experience in successful places.
The players don’t like Bienemy, his concept for the Redskins/Commie offense face-planted (not taking into account personnel). There’s zero reason to hire Bienemy as head coach, outside of a comp pick for hiring a visible minority. And Washington probably already got that comp pick when hiring Bienemy as OC and doesn’t get another one for promoting him to HC.