Despite only spending one season on a team with Eric Bieniemy as an offensive coordinator, former Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy thinks he has a read on whether the Super Bowl-winning OC has what it takes to be a head coach in the NFL.
To make a long-winded and very shortsighted answer short, he does not. On FS1’s Speak, McCoy said he didn’t think Bieniemy brought any value to the Chiefs as an OC. It doesn’t sound like he expects much from Bieniemy as the new OC of the Washington Commanders either.
Of course, what McCoy is missing is the potential for a coach who was only in his second year as a coordinator to evolve and for his role to expand in the years after their time together. And judging by the words of another ex-Chief who spent more than a year with Bieniemy, it also sounds like Shady was just wrong.
Jamaal Charles, the long-time Chiefs Pro Bowler who spent four years with Bieniemy as his running backs coach, disagreed.
I have to disagree with you Shady. Bieniemy Coach me 4 years I learned so many thing for EB and I still keep in contact with him a great husband and father. He deserves to be a head coach. https://t.co/P5Tym1BBd4
— Jamaal Charles (@jamaalcharles) February 21, 2023
So take the word of someone who spent one year with Bieniemy or someone who worked with him for four years.
Or how about Tyreek Hill, who spent six years with Bieniemy and got to see his full growth from RB coach to OC. Hill called Bieniemy a “great coach.” Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have also vouched for him.
EB still no job is crazy to me , another great coach slept on 😴
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) February 14, 2023
Bottom line, it’s ridiculous that a coach as accomplished as EB has had to deal with so much more scrutiny as a coaching candidate than less accomplished coaches. The worn-out “play-calling” argument is dumb, because even while it’s been proven Bieniemy does call plays, it’s not a requirement of head coaches and shouldn’t be the most important thing a coach brings to the table.
As a former player, McCoy’s opinion isn’t irrelevant, but it does contradict what other players who spent much more time with EB have said. So it doesn’t deserve nearly as much weight.
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