Eric Bieniemy spent 10 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, and in his five as offensive coordinator, they clinched the AFC championship all five years.
However, despite several interviews for many other jobs, Bieniemy couldn’t get hired elsewhere until last week, when he became the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.
It’s been a long debate as to why in NFL circles, but also among former Chiefs players.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
A perceived problem in the league is that teams don’t hire black coaches (there’s only one: Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh). However, former Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy said race is “absolutely not” a factor.
McCoy said he is “supporting [Bieniemy ] because he’s a black coach, and I love to see black coaches win.” However, he feels the 53-year-old was just a passenger in Kansas City who was able to “hide behind” Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
“I’ve been in the rooms where he’s training, and he has nothing to do with the passing game. When you design the passing plays, that’s Andy Reid…” McCoy said on FOX Sports.Speak for yourself.” “When we watched the practice film… he doesn’t speak there. Andy Reid speaks there…he has no real responsibility.”
But two former Chiefs, including an all-time franchise legend, took issue with what McCoy said:
EX-METS PITCHING COACH PHIL REGAN FILED AGE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HIS FORMER TEAM: REPORT
“I have to disagree with you Shady. Bieniemy Coach me 4 years I learned many things for EB and I still keep in touch with him, a great husband and father. He deserves to be head coach.” Jamaal Charles tweeted. The two were together in Kansas City from 2013 to 2016, when Bieniemy was the running backs coach.
Recently retired backup quarterback Chad Henne believes Bieniemy is capable of leading the charge.
“I think he just wants to get out of Andy Reid’s shadow, and I think he just wants to prove to himself that he can go out and run an offense himself, and I think he can do that,” Henne said. told ESPN Radio. “He’s a leader of men, and I think this is the best opportunity for him to prove himself instead of having some kind of hierarchy around him. He can do it, I know he can do it… And then maybe he has a great year and steps up and then gets a head coaching job the following year.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Surely, Washington will be very different from Kansas City. It looks like the Commanders will be traveling with Sam Howell, who is certainly not Mahomes.
However, Washington’s offensive talents of Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr., Antonio Gibson and Curtis Samuel are not to be sneezed at.