‘People are making something out of nothing,’ Chiefs’ Bieniemy says of calling plays
One of the biggest narratives working against Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy during the latest round of the NFL;s head-coaching searches seemed to revolve around the notion that he doesn’t call plays for one of the league’s top offenses.
But late in the second quarter of last Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round playoff game against Houston, with Kansas City facing second-and-goal at the Texans’ 5-yard line, CBS cameras isolated on Bieniemy on the sideline, play sheet in his hands. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who typically handles the primary play-calling responsibilities, stood off to the right of Bieniemy’s shoulder as the offensive coordinator called in the play.
NFL analyst Will Blackmon captured the short video segment and posted it on Twitter with the caption: “Eric Bieniemy never calls plays.”
The tweet went viral, collecting more than 2,700 retweets and 19,100 likes. So much for the perception that Bieniemy, promoted from Chiefs running backs coach to offensive coordinator two years ago when Matt Nagy left to become head coach of the Chicago Bears, doesn’t have a hand in play-calling, right?
Bieniemy, a candidate for several openings elsewhere recently, downplayed the situation when asked about it Thursday.
“We have an operation in how we do things and we have a communications system, Bieniemy said. “I mean, coaches communicate with me, I’m communicating to the quarterback. To be honest with you, I think people are making something out of nothing.”
Reid reinforced his offensive coordinator’s stance.
“Listen, we just jump in and go,” Reid said. “I’ve always been that way with it (play-calling). I think it’s important that everybody’s on the same page and involved with it. So, I don’t really care who’s calling it or not calling it. I just want to make sure that it gets called and that we’ve got good plays to call from. That’s where I put my energy.”
While the two coaches were ready to move on from last week, the video offered some proof that Bieniemy indeed has a hand in calling plays. That could help reshape the national narrative next time his name comes up for a head-coaching opportunity.
Reid has been steadfast in his public support of Bieniemy. He believes his friend has earned the right to move on and take over his own team. Reid’s stated numerous times in the past month that Bieniemy is ready to join the ranks of Nagy and his other former assistants who are now serving as NFL head coaches, including Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson and Buffalo’s Sean McDermott.
Despite Reid’s support, Bieniemy’s quest to become an NFL head coach hasn’t gone well. Over the past two years, he has interviewed for at least seven known head coaching vacancies, including three in the past month: with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers filled their spot with Matt Rhule, who coached at Baylor; the Giants hired Joe Judge, who served as a special teams coordinator/wide receivers coach with the New England Patriots; and the Browns brought aboard Kevin Stefanski, who previously served as offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
While the wait continues for Bieniemy, Chiefs running back Damien Williams is happy to have his offensive coordinator stick around — at least until the next round of head-coaching searches begins next offseason.
“I’m excited he’s back,” Williams said Thursday with a wide grin.
As for Bieniemy’s play-calling late in the second quarter against the Texans, the Chiefs didn’t score immediately after the cameras went back to live action. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw an incomplete pass to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. But on the next play, Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce for a touchdown to give the Chiefs a 28-24 lead at halftime. They’d overcome a 24-0 deficit and surged ahead for good.
The Chiefs went on to pull off the fourth-largest comeback in playoff history, winning 51-31 to set up Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs are one win away from going to Miami to play in Super Bowl LIV.
And for now, anyway, this opportunity to win a championship matters more to Bieniemy than coaching searches or who’s calling plays for the Chiefs.
“At the end of the day, the only thing that we want to do is chop wood and continue finding ways to get ourselves to that game that’s taking place in Miami,” Bieniemy said. “That’s what this is all about.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 4:17 PM.
