Press Box: K.C. might be Bieniemy's best bet this hiring cycle

In this Dec. 13, 2020, file photo, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wear masks as they talk on the field before the Chiefs take on the Dolphins during a game in Miami Gardens, Fla.
In this Dec. 13, 2020, file photo, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wear masks as they talk on the field before the Chiefs take on the Dolphins during a game in Miami Gardens, Fla.

This fall, when the Clemson Tigers were torching their way through the ACC and the New York Jets were doing the opposite in the NFL, there was no shortage of chatter on Twitter and among college football talking heads Clemson junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence might be better off returning to college, rather than going pro, if it meant the Jets would take him No. 1 overall.

Then the Jets fumbled away the top pick after an 0-13 start with back-to-back wins, Lawrence looked fallible in the Sugar Bowl semifinal against Ohio State, and the chatter ceased, even though the Jaguars aren't in much better shape than the Jets as a franchise.

But there is a situation where staying put could be the better long-term option, and it's not among the ranks of rookie QBs, but for a seasoned running back and offensive coach: Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

One of the architects of a prolific offense the envy of franchises all over, Bieniemy's name has been in the news a lot in recent weeks. And with seven NFL head coaching changes made since the end of the regular season, it stands to reason he'll get looks from most, if not all, of them.

Coaching, particularly in the pros, is not a forgiving profession, though. As such, not all openings are created equal, and if Bieniemy doesn't feel comfortable with any of them, there's no reason to jump. He's not being run out of Kansas City, and has, by all accounts, great relationships with Patrick Mahomes II, Andy Reid and Brett Veach. The offense is humming, the Chiefs are building toward back-to-back Super Bowls, and every win delays the timeline of a franchise wanting to hire Bieniemy, as that move can't be made until a team's postseason run is over.

Take, for instance, Atlanta. I would have liked to see my Falcons take a chance on Bieniemy, but the franchise is also hiring a new GM and faces tough offseason decisions on the weighty contracts of aging stars Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. Atlanta went with up-and-coming Titans OC Arthur Smith instead.

Jacksonville went with Urban Meyer, a successful college coach who got out of coaching in part because he did not properly report the spousal abuse of one of his former assistants. The Jets hired 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and Houston owner Cal McNair, after firing coach/GM Bill O'Brien, is in hot water with franchise face Deshaun Watson after making front office decisions without consulting the star quarterback.

That leaves the Philadelphia Eagles, who face both short- and long-term questions at quarterback; the L.A. Chargers, who are a divisional opponent of the Chiefs; and the Detroit Lions. The longer those jobs remain open, the greater likelihood they're waiting on an assistant with games still to play.

Though no NFL job opening is perfect, there is something alluring in the idea of building up a franchise from the bottom to the kind of competitive and driven people that succeed as pro coaches. But Bieniemy can afford to be discerning. And unlike Lawrence, he's already being paid, to do one of the best jobs in the NFL.