Chiefs assistant Bieniemy takes job with Commanders

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has a new job — though it’s still a step below where he ultimately wants to be.

Bieniemy, who has been with the Chiefs coaching staff the last 10 seasons, has signed a multi-year agreement to be the Washington Commanders’ offensive co-ordinator/ assistant head coach, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Friday afternoon.

K.C.’s offensive co-ordinator position might not be open for long. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that Chiefs quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy “quickly emerges as the top choice” to replace Bieniemy as OC. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo also reported Nagy “had interest from other teams in recent weeks but knew he was likely in line” for Bieniemy’s job if he left K.C.

This continues Bieniemy’s years-long quest to become an NFL head coach, as he should get to run his own offense with Washington under defensive-minded head coach Ron Rivera.

Bieniemy spent his first five seasons with the Chiefs as running backs coach before he was promoted to offensive co-ordinator in 2018. Under his guidance, K.C.’s offence ranked first, third, second, third and first in the NFL according to advanced numbers at Football Outsiders; that offence set the groundwork for two World Championships, three Super Bowl trips and five consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances during that time.

Bieniemy, when asked in mid-January about interviewing for the Indianapolis Colts’ job, made clear that becoming an NFL head coach was his ambition.

“Do I believe I’m qualified? Yes, I do,” Bieniemy said on Jan. 18, the week of the Chiefs’ first playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.