Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu 'Extremely Surprised' Eric Bieniemy Hasn't Gotten HC Job

Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said he's "extremely surprised" and "disappointed" that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is yet to receive a head coaching opportunity. 

“He's probably one of the most inspirational, motivational coaches I've been around. Obviously he's won a lot, coached great players, so it just sucks seeing that year after year," Mathieu told Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN.

Bieniemy, 52, has been interviewed for several vacancies over the last few years but has not been offered a job as a head coach. He's been the Chiefs' offensive coordinator since 2018, helping lead the NFL's most consistently explosive offense.

While some point to the presence of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the leaders of the offense, both have consistently heaped praise on Bieniemy throughout his tenure. 

Bieniemy's continued lack of head coaching chances was cited as evidence of racist and discriminatory hiring practices in a lawsuit filed against the NFL and its teams by former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores on Tuesday. The suit points out that several white candidates whose resumes pale in comparison to Bieniemy's have gotten chances to lead a team. 

The New York Giants, one of the three teams specifically named in Flores' suit, are cited as passing over Bieniemy in favor of Joe Judge, an unproven white coach. 

"Without question, Mr. Bieniemy has the pedigree, track record and reputation to make him a sought-after Head Coach. However, despite being interviewed for approximately 20 vacant positions over the last five years, no team has extended Mr. Bieniemy an offer," the lawsuit reads.

Bienemy has maintained a publicly optimistic disposition despite being continually passed over, saying last year his plan was to "continue chopping wood" until an opportunity arises. 

“At the end of the day, like I always tell folks, I don’t allow anything to dictate my outcome or my future,” Bienemy told reporters. “So the only thing we can do, alright, is to continue going back to work and to continue chopping wood. And when it’s all said and done, we all are blessed to be placed in the situations that we are in because—first and foremost—we do have a job. ... Would I like to be a head coach? Yes, I would. But you know what, it’s going to happen, at the right place, with the right people, at the right time.”

Mathieu told Martin he feels the NFL needs more Black coaches in large part because the vast majority of players are Black, so they often are better able to relate to players. 

Each of the four head coaches hired this offseason have been white. There is currently only one Black NFL head coach: Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers.