Eric Bieniemy Was The Poster Child For Racism In NFL, But Maybe He Just Can't Coach | Dan Zaksheske

One year ago, Eric Bieniemy couldn't get a head coaching position in the NFL. The media cried "racism!" and emphatically stated that the only reason he couldn't get a head coaching job was because he's black. 

Many of us, myself included, countered with actual facts. Bieniemy has a troubled past. Many of his players don't like him. He was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, but didn't actually call the plays. He coached under Andy Reid, one of the greatest NFL coaches of all-time, and had Patrick Mahomes, one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time, leading his offense. 

To say that the only reason he couldn't land a head coaching job was the color of his skin was a ludicrous claim then. It looks even sillier now. 

Bieniemy took a lateral move to become the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders. The idea was simple: if he could prove that he could succeed without Reid and Mahomes, teams might view him differently. 

(Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports)

Except, that plan backfired in spectacular fashion. The Commanders tied for the eighth-fewest yards per play in the NFL this season. Quarterback Sam Howell led the NFL in sacks taken. The team regressed from the previous season – prior to Bieniemy – in total yards and total points. 

Is that all Eric Bieniemy's fault? Of course not. But the idea that he could elevate an offense to another level through his coaching clearly did not come to fruition. 

Plus, Washington players did not respond well to Bieniemy. Rivera even stated during a press conference prior to this season that several offensive players went to the head coach and complained about Bieniemy. 

Then, you look at the Kansas City Chiefs, the team he left. They made it back to the Super Bowl without him. It sure looks like Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are the driving forces behind that team – just as most level-headed analysts realized before this season. 

(Harry How/Getty Images)

The Commanders fired Ron Rivera after the season, leaving Bieniemy in limbo. The team ultimately hired Dan Quinn, who subsequently hired Kliff Kingsbury to return to the NFL and lead the Commanders offense. Shortly thereafter, Quinn announced that Bieniemy would not return to the team. 

That, in and of itself, is not necessarily an indictment of Bieniemy. New head coaches want to build their own staffs. Quinn wanted to choose his offensive coordinator, and he went with Kingsbury. 

Sure, some of the usual suspects still deemed this move as racist. 

Robert Griffin III didn't outwardly claim racism but he is still standing by his guns that Bieniemy should be a head coach. 

An "Around the Horn" panelist on ESPN also alluded to racism, but didn't outwardly say it. This same panelist, someone named David Dennis, Jr., also previously accused the Houston Texans of racism last year. 

Stephen A. Smith claimed that white privilege is why Kliff Kingsbury got the Washington job, though he didn't name Bieniemy. 

Of course, "Deadspin" went completely off-the-rails, as is their MO. Our friend Carron J. Phillips, who falsely accused a pre-teen boy of blackface, had no hesitation penning an article with the sub-headline, "Don’t tell me the NFL is making great strides with hiring Black coaches if one of the game’s best offensive minds is unemployed." 

Credit to Phillips, though. He's sticking to his guns from a year ago. Bieniemy is a victim of racism and that's all there is to it. See, Phillips has absolutely no shame and, despite all the evidence in front of his face, can't admit that he was flat-out wrong. 

But, look at how the others above – who all claimed racism last year – slightly changed their stances. They know now what a lot of us knew then: Eric Bieniemy isn't fit to be an NFL head coach. 

(Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports)

Sure, RGIII might still claim that he is worthy, but he softened his approach. Stephen A. Smith moved on to talking about Kingsbury's white privilege and took the spotlight off Bieniemy entirely. That David – or is it Dennis? – guy implied race might play a role but didn't say it. Another softened stance after screaming it from the rooftops one year ago. 

They should all come out and apologize. After all, several NFL openings in this head coaching cycle went to black men. 

The Atlanta Falcons hired Raheem Morris. New England promoted Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick. And, the Las Vegas Raiders removed the interim tag and made Antonio Pierce their permanent head coach. 

Not that the color of their skin actually matters, but to some people it does. NFL teams showed that they don't actually care. They want to win football games. Period. 

The color of skin of the candidates is irrelevant, no matter how much people want to believe otherwise. 

Eric Bieniemy is not an NFL head coach. It has nothing to do with him being a black man. 

It's because, just maybe, he can't actually coach.