The Washington Commanders have made a surprising decision by hiring Dan Quinn as their new head coach. Despite being the top candidate and heavily speculated for weeks, many expected the team to go for an offensive-minded coach after the struggles under Ron Rivera. This has led to questions about why Eric Bieniemy was not given a chance.
Michael Irvin, NFL legend, openly questioned the Commanders’ hiring process and expressed his confusion about the situation surrounding Eric Bieniemy. Irvin’s sentiment seems to echo the thoughts of many others who are also wondering why Bieniemy was not considered as a potential head coach candidate. This has been a recurring theme for years, despite Bieniemy’s success as the architect behind the league’s best offense during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
It was widely believed that Bieniemy would take over if Rivera was fired, but that did not happen. The Commanders’ offense struggled in Bieniemy’s first year as offensive coordinator, which may have affected his chances of landing the head coaching job. However, it remains perplexing why someone with such a strong offensive mind, extensive experience as a player, and a track record of helping teams win championships is not being given the same opportunities as others.
It is possible that Bieniemy’s interviewing skills do not match his on-field abilities in terms of creating and executing innovative plays. Nonetheless, the decision to overlook him raises questions about the Commanders’ evaluation process and their willingness to give deserving candidates a fair chance at the head coaching position.