The Commanders will hire Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to the same position and as the assistant head coach, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The two sides reportedly “agreed to terms on a multiyear deal” on Friday.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the mutual interest between Bieniemy and Washington. With Bieniemy departing for Washington, Matt Nagy is considered the favorite to replace him as the team’s offensive coordinator, per Rapoport. Nagy spent this season as Kansas City’s quarterbacks coach.
Bieniemy replaces Scott Turner, who was fired from Ron Rivera’s staff in early January. While it may seem like a lateral move at the surface for Bieniemy, he will have the opportunity to call plays in Washington. With Kansas City, it has been a collaborative process with Andy Reid, with Reid getting the final say over play calling.
The Commanders enter a pivotal year in the Rivera regime, as Washington looks to finally put together a winning season. The 2022 campaign was Rivera’s winningest year yet in D.C. as the Commanders went 8-8-1, but missed the playoffs for the second straight year with him as coach.
Rivera went 7–9 in 2020, reaching the playoffs as winners of a weak NFC East, and 7–10 in ’21. While there was an improvement this season, the firing of Turner indicates the urgency that Rivera is operating under heading into his fourth year.
Bieniemy certainly provides a new voice in the room for an offense that is in transition. Second year quarterback Sam Howell is currently projected as the starter for next season, and would benefit from Bieniemy’s coaching as he continues to get more comfortable in the NFL game.
Bieniemy’s success with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes speaks for itself, and the move over to Washington enhances the Commanders’ chances at taking a step forward offensively next season.
