Eric Bieniemy deserves a shot at the Kansas City Chiefs head coach job after Andy Reid
The NFL’s Rooney Rule has so far done Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy no favors. The rule is named after the late Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who also chaired the league’s diversity committee. The policy mandates organizations consider internal and external minority candidates for head coaching and senior-level management positions. There are no guarantees in the process, as Bieniemy can attest.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and team president Mark Donovan should consider a succession plan that would ensure two things: Set up a smooth transition for whomever replaces head coach Andy Reid, and give Bieniemy his first shot running an NFL team by naming him coach-in-waiting.
Hear me out. Reid is 63 and under contract until 2025. By contrast, Bieniemy is 11 years younger at 52, and is a seasoned assistant. Big Red can’t patrol the Chiefs’ sidelines forever. Bieniemy is well suited to lead this team, or any other franchise, according to those in the know. He has been linked to high-profile jobs in the past and is under consideration for openings in both Denver and Minnesota.
Bieniemy will interview for the Broncos job, but I don’t want to see him in Broncos orange or Vikings purple.
Bieniemy has already interviewed to be a head coach with 14 of the league’s 32 teams. Each one has told him thanks, but no thanks.
Bieniemy wants to be a head coach in the NFL. He has been tutored by one of the best offensive minds in the game in Reid, who has consistently fielded championship-caliber teams in Philadelphia and Kansas City. There’s no shortage of Reid disciples in the coaching profession, and he is among many knowledgeable folks in the NFL who have endorsed Bieniemy as a potential head coach.
Last week, Reid expressed disappointment that his long-time assistant coach has not gotten a head coaching position.
The knock on Bieniemy is he doesn’t call plays. Reid is the architect of an offensive assault featuring star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But others have been tapped as NFL head coaches without play-calling experience.
Mike Tomlin was the head coach of Sunday’s opponent, Pittsburgh. Tomlin, 49, is currently the only African American head coach in a league that is 70% Black. He has never had a losing season in 15 years leading the Steelers, a league record. Minority coaches Brian Flores of Miami and Houston’s David Culley weren’t as successful, and both were dumped after the regular season concluded.
The hook was quick. Flores won 24 games in three seasons leading the Dolphins. Cully was jettisoned after just one season as head coach of the Texans. Neither team employs an all-world quarterback like Mahomes. Neither does Denver or Minnesota.
It’s tough to ask Bieniemy to sit tight. The man wants to be a head coach. Let’s keep him here by making his future in Kansas City clear.
