Don’t Rule Out Eric Bieniemy At USC
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has always hoped to become an NFL coach, but CBS Sports reports sources close to him believe he would consider the opening at USC.
OutKick previously reported that the program's long-time head coach Clay Helton’s firing came after USC’s embarrassing 42-28 loss to unranked Stanford at home on Sept. 11. The Trojans entered the game as the No. 14 team in the nation, but laid an egg in an important Pac-12 contest.
Bieniemy played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Chargers, Bengals and Eagles before retiring in 1999. The 52-year-old's NFL coaching career began in 2006 when he took over as the Vikings’ running back coach and he was hired him for the same position in 2013 by the Chiefs before being promoted to offensive coordinator. Kansas City signed Bieniemy to an extension in February.
CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports that while Bieniemy remains intent on his goal of pursuing NFL coaching opportunities when Kansas City's season ends and has not previously pursued college opportunities, timing may be a factor in this case if USC wants to have its next head coach in place by Thanksgiving for recruiting process.
La Canfora says this is one of the few select college openings Bieniemy would be open to.
Bieniemy has been a hot coaching candidate the past few years but has yet to land a job.
“It’s sad that it would come to that because this is a man who should already be a head coach in our league. But that is the kind of job you would have to entertain, especially with what Eric has been through the past few years. I don’t know how you categorically say no to USC,” a source with ties to Bieniemy tells La Canfora.
USC fired their head coach last week and should have one of the most attractive vacancies in either the NFL and college ranks.
La Canfora reports that Bieniemy told reporters last week that his sole focus is on coaching the Chiefs to the best of his abilities and helping them advance as far as possible in the postseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and UCF head coach Gus Malzahn have publicly shot down any rumors of their names being in the USC coaching search.
Check back with OutKick for updates.