Eric Bieniemy 'top candidate' for assistant job as debate rises over whether race is issue for head-coach gig

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Kansas City Chiefs assistant Eric Bieniemy is reportedly a top candidate for the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator job as debate over whether he’s been "screwed" out of head-coaching positions rose again.

Bieniemy went through another cycle without landing a head-coaching job even as the team won the Super Bowl for the second time since the 2019 season. The NFL Network reported Wednesday he’s the "top candidate" for the Commanders position.

Bieniemy has been in the Chiefs’ organization since 2013. He started as the team’s running backs coach and was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2018. But as he’s been a coaching candidate for teams over the last few seasons, he’s failed to attain the new role of head coach.

Earlier this week, CNN’s Jake Tapper and broadcaster Bob Costas wondered whether Bieniemy being Black had anything to do with it.

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Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs talks with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy during Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

"Would Eric Bieniemy be a head coach today if he were White?" Tapper asked Costas.

Costas responded, "I think you would have to conclude that as likely."

Costas added that Bieniemy has interviewed 15 times with 14 different teams over the last few years but has remained under coach Andy Reid. Bieniemy was up for the Colorado Buffaloes coaching job in the Pac-12 but turned that down. 

Among those teams, since 2019, the New York Jets hired Robert Saleh, the Houston Texans hired David Culley and Lovie Smith and since made DeMeco