NFL Rumors: Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy 'a Prime Candidate' for Ravens, Commanders OC Jobs

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is a "prime candidate" for the same role with the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Bieniemy signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs prior to the 2022 NFL season.

On Monday, the 53-year-old addressed his present situation and said he had yet to interview for any offensive coordinator postings in the NFL:

The Commanders and Ravens both present some challenges thanks to the uncertainty with their quarterback situations.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Sam Howell has the inside track for the starting role.

Howell went 11-of-19 for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Commanders' 26-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18, which was his only appearance. Leaning on the 2022 fifth-round pick could be a risky approach.

The Ravens, meanwhile, could have an entirely different quarterback depending on how Lamar Jackson's free agency plays out. You'd think whoever comes in as the offensive coordinator will have an idea of Baltimore's position with Jackson before accepting the job because that offense would look a lot different with somebody else under center.

Broadly speaking, that Bieniemy has yet to get hired as a head coach remains puzzling. It looks like Kansas City's offensive coordinator since 2018 will be shut out for another hiring cycle.

Maybe he'd just prefer a change of scenery, but some would read his accepting another OC gig as an admission that getting hired as a head coach is simply impossible as long as he remains in Kansas City. And that simply doesn't line up with how his predecessors benefited from working on Andy Reid's staff.

Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy were both the Chiefs offensive coordinator for shorter windows of time before they became NFL head coaches. In Nagy's case, he was the lone OC for just 2017 (also the co-OC in 2016) before the Chicago Bears targeted him.

Working and succeeding in Washington or Baltimore would seemingly strengthen Bieniemy's resume even more. The downside is that if the Commanders or Ravens were perceived to be playing worse than expected, it could be used to justify bypassing him in head coaching searches.