Commanders' Eric Bieniemy: Being Groomed to Replace 'Fired' Coach Ron Rivera?
We should probably tap the brakes here and take each of these steps one at a time ...
Eric Bieniemy left the Kansas City Chiefs to step out of the shadow of Andy Reid and become the playcaller with the Washington Commanders, in hopes that will eventually lead to him finally getting a chance to be an NFL head coach.
Could that opportunity come in D.C.?
In a new piece on Bleacher Report, it's suggested that if the Commanders choose to part ways with head coach Ron Rivera after the 2024 season, Bieniemy would be an interesting potential successor.
"Rivera's seat seems particularly hot this year after the Commanders brought in longtime Andy Reid understudy Eric Bieniemy," Bleacher Report writes. "While he'll initially work under Rivera as the team's offensive coordinator, he is also a potential head coach waiting in the wings. He would make a perfect replacement for Rivera if Washington elects to go a different direction in 2024."
We would push back against the idea that Bieniemy was brought in with the purpose of pushing Rivera. While ownership of the team changes hands, Rivera is probably the most powerful person in the Commanders organization. If anything, he brought in Bieniemy hoping that he would help to save his job and get the most out of second-year quarterback Sam Howell, as the Commanders try to compete in a crowded NFC East.
But right now, the Commanders look like the fourth-best team in an NFC East division that saw the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants all reach the postseason in 2022. It's possible that Josh Harris' ownership group will make regime change if things don't go well for the Commanders in 2023, which could mean Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew are shown the door.
That might mean that Bieniemy only spends one year in his current role for the Commanders -- such is life for an offensive coordinator when you don't have someone like Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. But Bieniemy inherited Howell, and it's interesting to imagine him taking over for Rivera after 2023 and getting a chance to pick his own quarterback as the new head coach.
That might be in play, way down the road. But also worthy of conversation is the idea that in the event of a poor season, Harris' ownership group completely cleans house. Rivera has earned the right to be here in 2023. So has Bieniemy. But we'll argue that beyond that? Nothing else is promised.
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