NFL Head Coaching Search: Patrick Mahomes Says His Offensive Coordinator Deserves Job

With six head coaching vacancies in the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy might be the most sought after candidate. Not only has Bieniemy coached the league’s most explosive offense but he has the endorsement of one of the league's best players.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes gave Bieniemy credit for much of Kansas City’s success. In three seasons as Kansas City's starter, and with Bieniemy as the OC, the Chiefs twice had the No. 1 offense.

“If you see how our offense has produced over these last few years he’s been one the most vital pieces of that,” Mahomes told 610 Sports Radio’s “The Drive” Monday.

“Obviously I want him to be here, but I understand that he deserves a chance to go out there and coach his own team and run his own organization. I mean he’s a guy that will hold everybody in that organization accountable, he’s going to build the culture the right way. And obviously he knows how to call the plays and do that stuff and produce on the field, and so there’s no real negative about it, so I don’t understand why he wouldn’t get one (head coaching job) in this kind of cycle.”

On Monday, the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions interviewed Bieniemy for their head coaching positions, while the New York Jets spoke with Bieniemy on Wednesday. Interviews with the Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars are also expected to come.

Bieniemy had a nine-year career as an NFL running back in the 1990s. After more than a decade as a running backs coach, he joined Andy Reid’s staff with the Chiefs in 2013. Bieniemy became the offensive coordinator in 2017.

While Bieniemy’s success with the Chiefs indicates he’s ready for his head coaching position, Mahomes believes the 51-year-old brings more to the table than simply what can be measured in Kansas City’s offensive numbers.

“First off, he taught me how to become a better person, which I think is more important than anything. How to hold other people accountable, how to be the leader in the locker room and I think that’s super important for (any) quarterback,” Mahomes said. “And then on the field, he’s taught me a ton about protection, he’s taught me a ton about how to go about my business of taking the deep shot when it’s there and taking the check down and moving the chains and doing things like that.”

Bieniemy could get a chance to work with the NFL’s next elite quarterback. Jacksonville is expected to draft Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick. The Jets could take a quarterback with the second selection. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off a historic rookie season.

Even if Bieniemy takes over a team that has a veteran starter, the quarterback will likely benefit from learning under the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.

“He understands how the quarterback thinks and what we need to do to have success in the field,” Mahomes said. "And I think that’s super important as a guy going into (a new job with) whatever quarterback that is.”