Chiefs weigh in on Eric Bieniemy missing out on head coach job again

Another offseason head coaching carousel has come and gone — and Eric Bieniemy remains the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. All seven teams with vacancies were reportedly interested in Bieniemy this offseason, but each went in a different direction.

“I’m glad I have him, but I’m not so glad I have him,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Thursday. “I was really hoping that he would have an opportunity to take one of these jobs. You guys know what I think of him. I think he’s great and I think he would be great any of the numbers of teams that opened up and help them win football games and also develop men into men. I just think he’s a great person.”

Reid has been a fervent supporter of Bieniemy for the last three offseasons, but more than 10 reported meetings with teams have not led to his hiring. Bieniemy reportedly met with at least five teams during the Chiefs’ playoff bye week, but those organizations all picked someone else.

“It amazes me, honestly,” Chiefs quarterback Mahomes said Thursday via the “Dan Patrick Show.” “The first year, you kind of were like, ‘All right, it’s just his first cycle through.’ Then last year, the interviews, you’re like, ‘For sure he’s gonna get a job.’ Then this year. If you look at his track record and the way he’s able to coach us, the way he’s able to lead men — people say that, but to be able to lead a locker room of people from every different background, every different race and everything like that, and be able to be the lead of the locker room is a special talent. It’s a talent, and he’s able to do that.”

The Houston Texans were Bieniemy’s last possible team.

Hope surfaced a week ago Monday when the NFL allowed the Texans to meet with him virtually prior to the AFC title game. But the Texans came to terms with another member of the Reid coaching tree, David Culley, on Wednesday night.

The 65-year-old Culley came to Kansas City from Philadelphia with Reid in 2013, spending four seasons as Chiefs wide receivers coach before moving on to become quarterbacks coach of the Buffalo Bills for two seasons. Culley then spent two years as the Ravens’ wide receivers coach before finally landing the Houston job.

“David will do a good job,” added Reid. “He’s a people person, he’ll bring energy to the building, and one of the most loved guys I’ve ever been around. So, he’s just a great person. I mean, we were together 18 years, so we had a few cheeseburgers together.”

Similar to Reid, Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill felt bittersweet about the Texans’ decision and announcement.

“I’m not a GM or anything — but I will say, coach Bieniemy has helped me a lot,” opened Hill. “The man, the player and everything I’ve become for this Chiefs organization. It’s very shocking that he didn’t get a job. I know deep down inside he’s going to look at himself in the mirror and say, ‘What can I do better so I can get that job?’ He’s that kind of dude. He wants to get better and he wants to become a head coach. His time will come. I feel like everything happens for a reason. His time will come.

“With that being said, David Culley did get a job. He was my receivers coach when I came to the Chiefs.”

Remember, Culley helped Hill as he initially transitioned from running back to receiver out of college in 2016.

”I am real happy about that.”