During last season's coaching cycle, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy interviewed for six of the NFL's seven head coaching openings and didn't receive a single offer, for reasons unknown. And at the moment, it appears his role in the league won't change in 2022, despite his resume and accomplishments.
Bieniemy has earned an opportunity to coach at the highest level. In his four seasons as the Chiefs' coordinator, their offense has scored the most points per game in the league (30.3) and racked up the most yards (404.2). It's also worth mentioning that he's helped guide the organization to four consecutive AFC championship game appearances and a Super Bowl title in 2019.
"I think it's more than weird [that Bieniemy isn't a bigger coaching candidate]. It's the worst story for the NFL over the last two, maybe three seasons. It's a travesty," former Chiefs receiver and current team analyst Danan Hughes told After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Tuesday. "There's never been a time in NFL history where, a guy who's a coordinator can be an orchestrater -- even if you want to give Andy Reid a lot of the credit, some of the credit...
"No teams in the NFL, as desperate and flailing as some of these teams are, feel like he can be a leader of men in that organization. Football is football. But a lot of people will tell you one of the hardest jobs to do in the game of football is manage egos, talent, and greatness. That's what he's done on a daily basis for four straight years... I think it's the worst story in the NFL... You've got to miss me with that whole 'not interviewing well.'"
Since being promoted to offensive coordinator, Bieniemy has only mentored superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This season, the former league MVP completed 66.3-percent of his passes for 4,839 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The Chiefs' campaign didn't end on a high note, however, as they were upset by the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC championship game on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The entire conversation between Hughes and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.