Bieniemy says he’s ‘fired up’ to be Washington OC

Eric Bieniemy knew almost certainly he was leaving the Kansas City Chiefs before they won a second Super Bowl in four years, writes

Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

After interviewing 16 times for 15 different NFL head coaching jobs, he also knew this time he probably was not getting another look to run a team. So, the longtime successful Chiefs offensive coordinator kept an eye out for his next challenge.

That turned out to be joining the Washington Commanders as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, a gig under Ron Rivera that should give Bieniemy the chance to show what he can do out of the shadow of Andy Reid and two-time MVP

Patrick Mahomes.

Bieniemy (pictured) is ready — “fired up,” as he said multiple times at his introductory news conference Thursday — to make Washington’s offense his own, call plays and shut out all the noise about why he isn’t an NFL coach in his own right.

“Being a head coach right now, it hasn’t happened,” Bieniemy said. “It’s not anything that’s going to impact me moving forward because the only thing I need to be concerned with is what’s important today. Today I got to be the best person that I can be. I got to be the best coach that I can be.”

Bieniemy, who turns 54 during training camp in August, became the best candidate out of more than a half-dozen interviews after Rivera went through the first week of interviews wanting to find someone quickly and started watching the playoffs instead. He saw what the Chiefs could do on offense and envisioned some of those characteristics with the Commanders, who relied on a stout defense to get to 8-8-1 last season.

“We’ve got our guy,” Rivera said proudly in introducing Bieniemy.