Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt once shared his disappointment that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy hadn’t yet secured an NFL head-coaching position elsewhere.
Hunt expressed that sentiment at Super Bowl LIV.
And three seasons later, Hunt’s disappointment remains.
“I wouldn’t say it’s grown,” Hunt said Tuesday, “because I knew what a great coach Eric was at that point and thought he would get an opportunity. I’ve continued to think that.
“At this point, he’s maybe been through too many hiring cycles and it’s almost become a little bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy that he’s not getting the opportunity.”
Bieniemy, who just concluded his fifth season as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, remains with Kansas City despite landing and going through interviews with multiple teams over the years. His most recent interview came with the Indianapolis Colts, one of five teams seeking a head coach this offseason.
Of those five, the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans have already found their next head coach. The search continues for the Colts and Arizona Cardinals.
Bieniemy is a wanted man elsewhere — the Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders requested to interview him for their vacant offensive coordinator positions. The same job he holds in Kansas City.
But that elusive head-coaching position is still his No. 1 desire.
“Do I believe I’m qualified? Yes, I do,” Bieniemy said after his interview with the Colts last month.
But for now, at least, he’ll continue in his role as offensive coordinator with the Chiefs. He’ll be on the sidelines Sunday when the Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
Hunt hopes this year’s big game will continue to showcase Bieniemy’s coaching abilities.
“I know he’s still interested and he would do a fantastic job (as an NFL head coach),” Hunt said. “And I’m glad that he’s going to have the stage that he’ll have on Sunday to once again show what a tremendous offensive coordinator he is.”
