Eric Bieniemy met with members of the media in Washington for his introductory press conference as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator with the Commanders.
A big question that Bieniemy was asked multiple times throughout the presser — Why leave a Super Bowl-winning organization to come and coach in Washington? It’s a question that many Chiefs fans have also wondered about their offensive coordinator of the past five seasons. Was his decision to leave about his path to becoming a head coach in the future? While Bieniemy clearly still has aspirations to be a head coach in the NFL, he seemed to suggest that he was simply too comfortable in Kansas City. As a result, he sought out a new challenge.
“In 10 years, we’ve had a great deal of success,” Bieniemy said. “For the past five years, I’ve been the offensive coordinator and we’ve had a great deal of success. It has been 10 years. I was blessed and fortunate to have that opportunity and share that space with some amazing people. One thing in this profession you learn is that comfort is the enemy of progress. When it’s all said and done with, I don’t like being comfortable. I’m about accepting challenges and moving forward. So, this presents a challenge to me. It also presents a challenge coming to work with such a good head coach (Ron Rivera). But on top of that, I’m willing to embrace this journey.”
Asked about when he realized that his next challenge might be outside of the organization he’d been with for the past 10 seasons, Bieniemy explained that he had an idea that leaving Kansas City would always be his next step. Whether as a head coach or in the role he now has, there was little left for him to accomplish with the Chiefs organization. His offense had won the AFC West for five consecutive seasons. They’d hosted five consecutive AFC Championship Games, winning three of them. He’d become a two-time Super Bowl champion. There’s little you can add to that resume staying in the same place.
“Well, first of all, you’ve got to be able to process information, live in the moment, but also plan for your future,” Bieniemy said. “Did I have an idea that I would be leaving the Kansas City Chiefs? Yeah, I had an idea that I’d be leaving. You always envision it in a different way, but like I said, I’ve been there for 10 years. I accomplished a lot of things there. It was a great organization. It was a great time. There was a lot of family that has been made there. But now it’s about broadening my circles and expanding and getting to know my new family and having an impact and helping this team and this organization accomplish goals and things we want to strive for.
“Did I have a plan? Yes, I did. But that wasn’t to impact anything we were looking to strive for during the course of the last season. It did not become a distraction. But when it was all said and done with, it was time to move on. It was time for me to go and accept this new challenge and embrace it.”
Asked about the timing of when he knew he’d be coming to Washington, D.C., Bieniemy said that it happened quickly after the team attained victory in Super Bowl LVII. It wasn’t an easy decision for him and one filled with a lot of reflection, but as he iterated throughout his presser, he knew it was time to move on from Kansas City.
“It was shortly after the Super Bowl,” Bieniemy said. “We had got everything arranged and I was ready. Now, obviously, throughout that process and the past two weeks have been physically and emotionally draining. In a good way. Because we went from winning a Super Bowl to coming back in town, getting acclimated, going through exit meetings, going through the parade. But I knew when I landed back in Kansas City what was in store. I knew that it was time to move on. You talk about the different waves of emotions that I experienced. Just having that opportunity to say goodbye to the players. Spending that time throughout the parade just feeling the emotions from the fans. So, I knew what I wanted to do and this is why I’m here.”
