The Washington Commanders’ biggest offseason move wasn’t a player acquisition. Washington’s best offseason move was hiring former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Head coach Ron Rivera knew late in the 2022 season he wasn’t bringing back Scott Turner for a fourth season in 2023. Turner wasn’t Washington’s scapegoat. The team’s quarterback problems — 10 QBs in three seasons — and offensive line issues were a bigger problem than Turner’s playcalling.
But when multiple offensive players expressed their frustration late in the season, Rivera knew it was time for a change. The biggest question was how could Rivera land a qualified offensive coordinator heading into what some may consider a lame-duck 2023 season.
Rivera interviewed multiple candidates, took his time, and struck gold by landing Bieniemy after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. Rivera’s relationship with Kansas City head coach Andy Reid played a pivotal role in Bieniemy’s wanting to lead his own offense out from under Reid’s shadow. And the Commanders could be a perfect springboard into Bieniemy, landing his first head-coaching job.
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports recently named each NFC team’s best offseason move. For the Commanders, it was Bieniemy.
Getting Bieniemy to leave Kansas City and become a play caller was the best move the Commanders could have made this offseason. Bieniemy takes over a Commanders offense that has started 12 different quarterbacks since 2018 — the most in the NFL. Washington averaged 18.8 points per game last season under Scott Turner (24th in NFL) and 330.3 yards per game (20th in NFL).
Bieniemy played a crucial role in the development of Patrick Mahomes and the evolution of the Kansas City Chiefs offense over the past five years. The Chiefs have scored the most points per game in the NFL (30.1) since Bieniemy became the offensive coordinator in 2018, along with the most yards per game (406.2). Mahomes also has the most passing yards, passing touchdowns, and the highest passer rating since the start of the 2018 season — all with Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator.
If Sam Howell becomes as good as Washington has proclaimed he is, Bieniemy is arguably the best hire of any team this offseason. He gets the opportunity to command this offense and get the Commanders into contending status in the NFC.
Everything Kerr said is correct. The key for Bieniemy is Howell. If Bieniemy can help Howell develop into a quality NFL quarterback, he will have his pick of jobs in 2024.
