Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy explains benefit of NFL’s accelerator program
The last few months for Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy have again been filled with rumors and speculations surrounding his inability to earn a head-coaching job.
Players and members of the Chiefs’ coaching staff have spoken up for Bienemy, shooting down the adverse reports but entering a new season, the spotlight will be on the veteran play-caller. Bienemy enters another season as the Chiefs offensive coordinator after many believed he would be a head coach by now after years of interviewing with over a dozen teams. He’s been endorsed annually by players and coaches for jobs but hasn’t yet landed a position.
The lack of diversity amongst head coaches around the league has been a problem that the league has sought to address following a hiring cycle that didn’t yield the most diverse results. Bienemy recently attended a new NFL program, which sought to bring diverse coaching and front office candidates together for leadership development and networking opportunities. During Thursday’s OTAs press conference, Bieniemy spoke about attending the NFL’s accelerator program.
“I actually thought the league did an outstanding job,” Bieniemy said. “So the thing that I loved about it there was a lot of things, but one thing as a coach, we always have an opportunity to interact with other coaches. So that was good. Obviously, having that interaction. The thing that we don’t get the luxury of is having the opportunity to deal with the Tim Terry’s. I have an opportunity to go deal who was who’s the next Brett Veatch. Okay, who’s the next Ryan Poles. That was exciting. Now you get to meet the people behind the scenes and make things work and personnel. I thought that it was great having that opportunity to interact with all the different people from around the league. On top of that, just sitting there having a conversation with owners, and just everyday conversation, it just breaks down barriers, it breaks down walls, where you can sit there, look someone in the eye and have a legit conversation with them just about life, I thought they did a hell of a job. It was a lot of workshops. It was a lot of, you know, education-type deals. But on top of that, it was more of people who are in this industry like myself, having an opportunity just to interact and understand how people view things when you’re going through that interview process.”
Bienemy followed up with more insight on his stance and appreciation for the event. He praised the inclusive environment for allowing everyone to get to know one another from a personal standpoint.
“It’s a different setting,” Bieniemy explained. “So Darren (Smith) you’ve got to understand, it’s just like me and you by going out to this bar, and you’re down there we’re going sit and talk about different things, right? We may have a conversation about life. Okay, what are some of your personal interests? What are some of the things that you value? So it’s out of a business setting. It’s a personal setting where you get to know people. And I think that’s important because everybody don’t know Eric Bienemy. And so I don’t know all those owners. And I think the benefit and what the league did was huge because it not only gave me an opportunity, but it gave the Vance Josephs of the world. I know Vance has been a head coach; he had the Terry Josephs of the world, to Cari Joseph’s, I mean, I can go on and name so many different people. It gave everyone a voice and a view to see exactly from that window, what is like, okay to interact with those people, but also on top of that, to have that opportunity to, to just say, ‘Hey, this is who I am.'”
In each of the past three offseasons, Bienemy has interviewed for a head coaching job after orchestrating one of the best offenses in the league. He’s surprisingly been denied many opportunities, but he’s not letting the disappointment diminish his dream to one day be the man in charge of a coaching staff in the NFL.
“I’ve just got to go get it,” said Bienemy. “I’m not seeking any comfort. You know, I haven’t gotten it for whatever reason— it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna keep knocking on that door. I’m going to keep working my ass off to make sure that it happens. So my job this year is to make sure that we take care of the business that needs to be taken care of today to help us to achieve the goal down the road. But then it’s time for me, when presented, to just go and get the job.”
Bienemy has helped lead in the development of all-pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes throughout his career and has had the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game every year as offensive coordinator. The frustration has fueled him more to continue improving his current role with the expectation that things will change in the future.
“Yes, it is tough, but I don’t let that keep me from doing what I do,” Bieniemy explained. “I’m still alive. I’m breathing. I have an opportunity to work with a championship team. So that’s the beauty of it. And so the thing about it, like I said, I don’t seek any comfort. I don’t want any pity. Because this is who I am. I’m gonna keep pushing, keep knocking because when it’s all said and done when I know who I am, and I’m comfortable with the person that I am striving to be.”
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