Report: Chiefs getting blocked from hiring emergency coach for playoffs
As Jordan Sigler of the Gridiron Heroics reports, the Washington Commanders are making it impossible for the Kansas City Chiefs to add Eric Bieniemy to their staff ahead of the playoffs. The Chiefs are set to play the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round this week.
The Commanders don’t have any games to play in the postseason. The Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera Monday morning following the 4-13 campaign for the 2023 season. There was some hope in the Chiefs fanbase that they could add former Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy when Rivera was fired.
The Kansas City Chiefs need an offensive spark
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The Chiefs offense has struggled this season under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Per GH Media files, Mike Florio with NBC Sports floated the possibility in December of Bieniemy joining the Chiefs in the postseason:
Mike Florio with NBC Sports thinks the Chiefs could make a literal splash hire for the playoffs by adding Bieniemy once he’s been relieved of his offensive coordinator duties in Washington. Patrick Mahomes has hinted recently he misses his former offensive coordinator:
“First, the Commanders would have to fire Bieniemy. If/when they move on from coach Ron Rivera, the Commanders could choose to hold other members of the staff in place, until the next coach decides whether to keep him. If that doesn’t happen, and if Bieniemy is relieved of his duties, he’d be free and clear to join any other team for the playoff run.
Why not return to the Chiefs? Quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently explained that Bieniemy brought an accountability that the team is missing. “I think Coach Bieniemy set that standard when he was here,” Mahomes said.”
The Kansas City Chiefs are getting blocked by the Commanders
The Commanders would have to play ball for the Chiefs to have an opportunity to hire Bieniemy. After Rivera’s firing on Monday, the enemy is still required to handle his duties with the Commanders.
According to Ralph Vacchiano with Fox Sports, Bieniemy won’t be relieved of his duties in Washington anytime soon. Owner Josh Harris indicated Monday that he plans to keep the Commanders assistant coaches on staff until the team hires a head of football operations.
The Commanders have every right to keep Bieniemy in Washington for now. Bieniemy could wind up getting an interview for the head coaching vacancy.
The Chiefs will have to wait out the situation in Washington for a few days or a week. The Commanders will need to hire a head of football operations rather quickly to expedite hiring their next head coach.
Until then, Bieniemy will not be heading to Kansas City to fulfill a role similar to what Vic Fangio did with the Philadelphia Eagles in last year’s Super Bowl. And it certainly won’t be in time for him to have much effect on the Chief’s contest against the Dolphins.
The Chiefs need Nagy to bring them through at least one more week.
