KC Chiefs: Eric Bieniemy already top head coaching candidate

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Head coach Bill O’Brien of the Houston Texans (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

AFC Teams to Target Eric Bieniemy

Cincinnati Bengals

It’s rare for an NFL team to give a head coach only one season, but it does happen. Just last year, the Arizona Cardinals hired Steve Wilks, only to fire him after going 3-13. And despite employing Marvin Lewis for the past 72 seasons (estimated), the Bengals totally seem like the type of organization that would turn around and fire someone after a single season, which puts first-year head coach Zac Taylor right in the cross hairs.

Such a move would probably also spell the end of the Great Andy Dalton Experiment, which would enable Bieniemy to start from scratch with the quarterback of his choice.

Cleveland Browns

Let’s not count out Cleveland’s much-hyped season turning into a dumpster fire. From the way the team’s fans acted last weekend–after just one game!–the season has already reached the point of no return.

That doesn’t bode well for first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens. I could totally see Jimmy Haslam force John Dorsey to can Kitchens. Dorsey would then be smart to turn to his old colleague from Kansas City.

Ohio football, am I right?

Houston Texans

This won’t happen as long as head coach Bill O’Brien is still the team’s de facto general manager, but if ownership actually hires someone to oversee personnel, O’Brien’s time in Houston could be over. And deservedly, as he’s made some truly questionable transactions while going only 42-38 (before Monday night’s meltdown against the Saints) in five seasons with a postseason record of 1-3. That would be another dead branch for the Belichick Coaching Tree.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Granted, this would be an odd fit if Tom Coughlin remained in charge. Bieniemy’s style of offense doesn’t seem to mesh with what Coughlin wants his teams to do. But Doug Marrone doesn’t appear to be the answer.

And with 2019 suddenly looking bleak in light of Nick Foles‘ injury, Marrone’s time seems to be coming to an end. Like with the Bengals, this would be a destination with a huge question mark at QB–unless Gardner Minshew keeps completing every single pass he throws.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Famously, the Steelers have only had three coaches since man first landed on the Moon: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and, since 2007, Mike Tomlin. Both Noll and Cowher ended their tenures by retiring, never to coach another NFL team. It might be different with Tomlin, though, as the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 while the team missed the postseason last year. More damning, Tomlin has had a difficult time maintaining order in the locker room.

Next. KC Chiefs: Winners and Losers from Week One. dark

Sunday night’s 33-3 shellacking at the hands of the Patriots may be the end of the beginning of the end for Tomlin. Doubtful, but maybe. And with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger 37, a brand new beginning with a new head coach and quarterback may be just what the franchise needs.

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