Where could former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy end up next after his expected departure from the franchise?
Eric Bieniemy's time with the Washington Commanders failed to reap the rewards expected. The offense looked disjointed. There were reports of friction between the coach and his players. When Ron Rivera was fired, it didn't take a genius to figure out he'd also be on his way out.
New head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Bieniemy wouldn't be part of his plans moving forward. The Commanders hired Kliff Kingsbury to be their new offensive coordinator. Something that came with instant speculation surrounding a potential move up to No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft for Caleb Williams.
This will be of no interest to Bieniemy. The respected figure must now take stock of his predicament. No head coaching interest arrived and offensive coordinator vacancies have been filled. Options appear limited right now, but smart teams are always willing to make room for someone with his credentials.
With this in mind, here are three potential landing spots for Bieniemy after his inevitable Commanders' exit.
Eric Bieniemy could join the Steelers
Mike Tomlin loves surrounding himself with experienced coaches who are a little down on their luck for one reason or another. Eric Bieniemy's availability might not go unnoticed, although they recently filled their offensive coordinator position with former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.
Could Tomlin look to bring in Bieniemy as an assistant head coach? It might reap some rewards, especially if the Steelers end up selecting another quarterback to compete with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph.
Bieniemy's work with Patrick Mahomes came in for significant praise. Sam Howell also spoke highly of his ability to nurture his talent. His old-school, tough-love approach to coaching is something that would likely mesh well with Tomlin all things considered.
Eric Bieniemy could join the Vikings
Eric Bieniemy got his first NFL coaching opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings after working his way up through the college ranks. He was the team's running backs coach before being promoted to assistant head coach. This was a solid footing and his work to ensure Adrian Peterson took the league by storm came in for significant plaudits.
Things aren't nearly as profitable for Minnesota's rushing attack these days. Their decision to release Dalvin Cook came with an expected drop in production. Young players who got more chances weren't properly developed or simply failed to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them.
The Washington Commanders' rushing attack suffered from Bieniemy's lack of balance schematically. This became an increasing frustration considering how impactful Brian Robinson Jr. became. It ended up being a harsh lesson learned during his only season with the franchise.
Working under a progressive offensive mind such as Kevin O'Connell might be exactly what Bieniemy needs at this stage of his career. He's been accused of being stuck in his ways and unwilling to alter his approach to the modern-day athlete. Seeing how the Vikings head coach goes about his business - albeit in an assistant capacity - could do wonders for his broader perception.
Whether this would mean he'd replace Minnesota's current running backs coach or the Vikings make another spot for Bieniemy is up for debate. But this return to where his NFL coaching journey began could be a win-win for all parties.
Eric Bieniemy could join the Chiefs
Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have. Had Eric Bieniemy read the Washington Commanders' situation a little differently and spurned the chance to join what many believed to be a lame-duck head coach in Ron Rivera, he'd be preparing for another Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs right now.
Bieniemy should not be criticized for wanting to go it alone. He felt getting out of Andy Reid's shadow was the best option en route to becoming an NFL head coach one day. It didn't come off, but he's still held in the highest regard by players and coaches alike within the AFC West set-up.
While Reid is a little busy looking for back-to-back championships this weekend, discussing the prospect of bringing Bieniemy back into the fold is something that will come up as part of their offseason planning. The benefits are obvious and the continuity is another bonus. But it's not going to be in the offensive coordinator spot he held previously thanks to the presence of Matt Nagy.
The Chiefs didn't do much to prevent Bieniemy from leaving. They saw it as natural career growth with Reid going nowhere anytime soon. Allowing Bieniemy to re-join the ranks would be seen as a step back for many, but the timing of his Commanders' departure means options are extremely limited.
And who knows, perhaps this will return Bieniemy to being the heir apparent when Reid eventually retires if everything goes well.