Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s contract with the Kansas City Chiefs is expiring following the 2021 season, NFL Network reported Monday night.
Bieniemy still may re-up with the Chiefs with a new contract, but his status means he could choose to pursue offensive coordinator jobs elsewhere as a de facto coaching free agent.
Frequently interviewed for head-coaching jobs around the NFL, Bieniemy was passed over once more in the 2022 hiring cycle. The New Orleans Saints reportedly interviewed Bieniemy for eight hours on Sunday, but they chose instead to promote their own defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, to replace Sean Payton.
Bieniemy has served as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator since 2018 after five years as their running backs coach. In his four seasons as OC — coinciding with Pat Mahomes’ four seasons as the starting quarterback — the Chiefs have never finished outside the top six in the NFL in either total offense or scoring offense.
Coach Andy Reid calls the Chiefs’ offensive plays rather than Bieniemy.
NFL teams with offensive coordinator vacancies as of Super Bowl week include the New England Patriots, the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots’ Josh McDaniels and the 49ers’ Mike McDaniel took head-coaching gigs elsewhere, while the Lions lost OC Anthony Lynn to the 49ers in an assistant coach role. The Los Angeles Rams also will reportedly lose their offensive coordinator, Kevin O’Connell, after Super Bowl LVI to take over the Minnesota Vikings.
–Field Level Media