The Washington Commanders made a significant move ahead of the 2023 NFL offseason by acquiring Eric Bieniemy from the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive coordinator. They anticipated a remarkable season under his leadership, working alongside long-time head coach Ron Rivera.
However, the Commanders’ expectations were dashed just after the regular season started. They secured only four wins, prompting the team to fire Rivera. Now, Bieniemy will also not be seen with the franchise in the upcoming season.
Commanders are unlikely to see Eric Bieniemy again
After firing Rivera, the Commanders signed Dan Quinn as their new head coach. Following his hiring, Eric Bieniemy’s tenure with the team has come to an end.
At Quinn’s introductory news conference, he made it clear that Bieniemy would not be returning to the coaching staff. He recognized Bieniemy’s coaching abilities but made it clear that they would not be working together in Washington.
“I had a good visit with him. I think he’s an excellent coach. We’re not going to work together here. I wanted him to know I respect the work that he’s done. I wish EB nothing but the best”, the HC said via ESPN.
New Commanders’ HC Dan Quinn said Eric Bieniemy will not return to Washington’s staff.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 5, 2024
Eric Bieniemy’s tenure with the Commanders was rather short, as he only spent one season as offensive coordinator under Ron Rivera. Before joining the team, he gained experience as the OC for the Chiefs, working alongside head coach Andy Reid for five seasons.
The Commanders offensive performance under the veteran’s guidance in the previous season showed room for improvement. The team showed a small improvement in overall offense, averaging 19.4 points per game and ranking 25th. In addition, their passing yards ranking was 15th, their rushing yards ranking was 27th, and their total points scored ranking was 25th. The underperforming offensive line ultimately led to his termination.
Kliff Kingsbury replaces Eric Bieniemy’s role at Commanders
The Commanders appointed Kliff Kingsbury to replace Eric Bieniemy. This decision was announced by Dan Quinn on Monday. It drew parallels to Quinn’s past experience with the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan, whom he lauds for his offensive prowess.
Quinn’s admiration for Kingsbury stems from the difficulty of facing him on the field. Much like Shanahan, the newly appointed OC is known for his ability to stretch the field effectively.
“Kliff has always been somebody that I kept up with. In the same way of why I wanted to hire Kyle years ago, he was hard to go against. He would stretch the field horizontally and vertically, and going against Kliff those same feelings you had. This is gonna be tough. Matchups, formations, speed, shots down the field, aggressiveness, boldness to go,” Quinn said.
The Commanders are hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator, per multiple reports pic.twitter.com/mHqKCxby2Z
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 5, 2024
Kingsbury’s coaching background spans 12 seasons at the college level, during which he refined his skills and gained recognition for his offensive strategies. After leaving the Arizona Cardinals in January, he worked as an offensive analyst for the USC Trojans this past season.
The veteran played a crucial role in nurturing the talents of Caleb Williams, a potential top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams has declared for the upcoming draft. He is now linked with the Commanders, as the team is holding the No. 2 pick for the draft.
As part of his role with the Commanders, Kingsbury will be responsible for overhauling an offense that ranked towards the lower end of the league in several key metrics. Do you believe he has a chance of succeeding in the race?
