An NFL insider has offered up a huge update on the possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs being able to bring back former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy with the door wide open after Ron Rivera’s firing.
The Chiefs stumble into the postseason after a very up-and-down season for the AFC West champions. While their defense was better than expected at times in 2023, however, their vaunted offense led by reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes was surprisingly underwhelming this season.
After leading them to another Super Bowl title last year, Mahomes had big declines in efficiency this past season as he threw the most interceptions of his career and the lowest amount of touchdowns in five years. While he can take some heat, a lot of the blame goes on a receiving corps. that was unreliable and had butter fingers all season.
Due to the offense’s inconsistent play this season, there is far less confidence around this Chiefs team heading into the playoffs compared to last year. However, in December NFL insider Mike Florio offered up a reason for hope when he suggested that the organization might be able to bring back former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy right before the playoffs.
His absence this season is one of the most notable changes and after the Washington Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera on Monday, it seems like the door was left wide open for Bieniemy — a favorite coach of Mahomes — to move on from his 2023 role in Washington and return to KC in an advisory position just in time for the NFL playoffs.
However, a new update on the Commanders’ coaching situation seems to close the door to that possibility. On Monday night, FOX Sports NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano revealed that Commanders owner Josh Harris plans to retain Rivera’s assistant coaches “until a head of football operations is in place.”
That process will likely take weeks and should take a Bieniemy return to the Chiefs out of the equation for the playoffs. Nevertheless, the former OC going back to Kansas City next season could be possible if he isn’t retained by the next Commanders’ head coach.