February 5, 2024 – 2:16 PM PST
Eric Bieniemy is out of a job less than one year after leaving the Kansas City Chiefs for the Washington Commanders.
At his introductory press conference Monday, new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Bieniemy, Washington’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2023, will not be retained.
The Commanders hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator. Quinn said Monday that he “had a good visit” with Bieniemy.
“I think he’s an excellent coach. We’re not going to work together here,” Quinn said. “I wanted him to know I respect the work that he’s done. I wish EB nothing but the best.”
Bieniemy, 54, spent a decade on the Chiefs’ staff, spending 2013-17 as their running backs coach and being elevated to offensive coordinator in 2018. Head coach Andy Reid remained the Chiefs’ offensive play-caller.
Bieniemy, who is Black, had several interviews for head-coaching positions but was never offered a job. After the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles last year, he accepted the Washington position as an opportunity to build his own staff and call plays.
The Commanders went 4-13 in 2023, ending on an eight-game losing streak. Head coach Ron Rivera was fired at season’s end.
Bieniemy — who interviewed for the head-coaching role that ultimately went to Quinn — was let go despite having a year left on his contract.
As for the Commanders, 2024 could mark the start of a new era. Josh Harris purchased the team from Dan Snyder last year. The new ownership group hired Adam Peters as general manager. Washington controls the second pick in the draft and is a likely candidate to select a franchise quarterback.
Peters said he and Quinn “have a shared vision that we’re going to build a team with the play style and the identity that you guys will love to watch.”
Quinn, who guided the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance during a six-year tenure as head coach, spent the past three seasons as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator and was a popular candidate to interview for head jobs. His new position sees him move to an NFC East division rival.
“It was the one where it was like a flashing light to me,” Quinn said Monday. “This is the moment. This is the one.”
Quinn hired Dallas secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. to be his defensive coordinator, saying Monday that Whitt will call the defensive plays.
–Field Level Media