KC Chiefs: Four long-term fits for Eric Bieniemy as a head coach
By John McCarty
Eric Bienemy should be a head coach next season in the NFL. What places are the best long-term fits for the next KC Chiefs coordinator turned head coach?
After not getting a head coaching position last offseason, it’s highly unlikely that Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy will be back with the team next season. It’s difficult to imagine teams passing on the head coach prospect again, right?
With what appears to be a good offseason for Bienemy to find a job, we take look at a few potential landing spots for him to land. There are a few places that have already opened (Lions and Texans) while other positions are likely to open by the time the playoffs get going (Jaguars, Jets, and Chargers).
Does Bienemy want a spot with an established quarterback but perhaps limited long-term assets or does he want a place where he can build from scratch, perhaps having a more hands-on approach to roster construction?
Long-term fits for Eric Bieniemy – Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars, especially for a first-time head coach, could be an attractive landing spot. The team will likely have a top-two draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and will land one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft.
The Jaguars have a bunch of cap room (currently lead the league in cap space for 2021) to fortify a roster that has some young talent, especially on offense. Also, they will have a new GM as well, meaning Bienemy would be coming in as a team with a new front office. That means he likely has more input and control than he otherwise would.
The Jaguars defense needs some help, but, it’s not a disaster. Improve the quarterback position, improve the defense, and within a year or two the Jaguars become a squad other teams don’t want to play.
The big concern is the idea of taking a rookie quarterback can destroy first-time coaches, Jacksonville has zero track record of supporting the team consistently and their owner made history, reaching 100 career losses faster than any non-expansion owner in league history.
There are some organizational culture issues with the Jaguars that likely will give any prospective head coach pause, but Bieniemy could be the right man for the job in Jacksonville.