5 head coaching candidates who could replace Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy
124. . . . Eric Bieniemy. 4. player
You want a head coach that you can trust. The ideal candidate would have a proven record. That is how you gain the trust of an organization and its fans. Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, has that in his favor.
He began his coaching career as a running backs coach with Colorado University, then transferred to UCLA. After his five-year college stint as a running backs coach, the Minnesota Vikings hired him to coach their running backs. That included helping rookie Adrian Peterson.
The Vikings’ starting running backs averaged 1400 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns over those five years. Peterson from 2007-2010 and Chester Taylor in 2006 all eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in each season. That’s while averaging 4.7 yards per run.
Bieniemy made another quick stop at Colorado University as an offensive coordinator before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 as a running backs coach. He reacquired his role as an offensive coordinator, but this time in the NFL with the Chiefs in 2018.
He is directly responsible for the final two Pro Bowl appearances for running back Jamaal Charles, the emergence of Kareem Hunt, and eventually the development of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It’s a star-studded lineup that Bieniemy has had the privilege to coach.
More from Brian Flores: “They’re better, they’re confident, they play hard, they execute.” — also goes out of his way to say about #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy he says “If EB’s not a Head Coach here soon, something’s wrong.” pic.twitter.com/xEpqy6McaB
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) December 9, 2020
The Colorado product is one of the many college stars that couldn’t translate his success to the NFL. His intellect and football IQ was not why it didn’t work out. Bieniemy has been one of the top head-coaching candidates for a couple of years now. He has been running arguably the best offense over the past four years. KC’s last three seasons consisted of an AFC Championship loss, Super Bowl win, and Super Bowl loss in order.
This season, the team is looking just as talented, if not better than the past few. Another Super Bowl appearance would mark three consistent appearances. While the defense has improved this year, it is the offense that has been blowing the NFL away.
The 14-year NFL coaching vet carries an offensive scheme that favors the pass and will utilize running backs as receivers. Ironically, that’s how he contributed when he played with the Cincinnati Bengals.