Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has interviewed with about half the teams in the NFL but has yet to become a head coach.
Entering his fifth season as OC with the Chiefs, Bieniemy is hoping his fortunes will change after the 2022 season.
“I just got to go get it,” Bieniemy said during OTAs. “I’m not seeking any comfort. I haven’t gotten it for whatever reason. It don’t matter. I’m going to keep knocking on that damn door and I’m going to keep working my ass off to make sure that it happens.”
Being offensive coordinator for the Chiefs under Andy Reid has been a pathway to head coaching positions. Reid’s previous two offensive coordinators Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy became head coaches with the Eagles and Bears.
Pederson is entering his first season as head coach of the Jaguars, and after being fired in Chicago, Nagy returned to the Chiefs this offseason as quarterbacks coach. Bieniemy, however, hasn’t had the same opportunity as his predecessors despite having Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and a Super Bowl championship.
“In reality it is tough,” Bieniemy said. “But I don’t let that keep me from doing what I do. I’m still alive, I’m breathing, and I have an opportunity to work with a championship team. So that’s the beauty of it. And the thing about it is I’m going to keep pushing, keep knocking because when it’s all said and done with, I know who I am, and I am comfortable with the person I’m striving to be.”
Bieniemy also participated in the league’s first diversity accelerator program, which allowed minority head coaching and general manager candidates to meet with NFL owners, coaches and executives.
“I thought the league did an outstanding job,” Bieniemy said. “I thought that was great having the opportunity to interact with all the different people around the league. On top of that, just sitting with owners and having everyday conversations.”
Now Bieniemy is hoping some of that networking will lead to a head coaching position in 2023. But in the meantime, he’s focused on this year’s team as the Chiefs hope to return to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.
“My job this year is to make sure that we take care of the business that needs to be taken care of today to help us to achieve the goal down the road,” Bieniemy said. “And then it’s time for me, when presented, to just go get the job.”
